😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $459 in Gampaha.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $774 in Gampaha.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $1,088 in Gampaha.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 180% more expensive than in Gampaha, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Gampaha67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.55
$1.89LKR 619
520.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.8
$18.03LKR 5,916
110.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.41
$5.25LKR 1,723
85.52%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.90
$1.25LKR 411
172.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.76
$0.59LKR 192
79.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.27LKR 89.1
140.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.05
$2.10LKR 689
28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.08
$3.10LKR 1,018
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.73
$1.57LKR 515
40.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$0.45LKR 147
80.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$0.74LKR 244
121.62%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.18
$1.58LKR 519
74.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.50
$13.04LKR 4,279
-30.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.09
$4.05LKR 1,329
61.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.91
$7.34LKR 2,407
71.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$6.19LKR 2,032
-73.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$0.90LKR 296
101.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.03
$4.35LKR 1,427
-55.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$1.24LKR 408
108.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$1.02LKR 336
-14.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.68
$0.75LKR 246
-13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$0.29LKR 94.1
379.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.32LKR 106
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$9.67LKR 3,173
-65.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.66
$13.32LKR 4,369
-43.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$1.36LKR 446
18.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$2.46LKR 807
-8.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$0.31LKR 102
19.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.41
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.05
$0.31LKR 102
277.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.36LKR 118
122.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.55
$0.88LKR 288
1187.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.13LKR 371
17.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$30.5KLKR 10.0M
-18.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$43.0KLKR 14.1M
-47.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾232
$27.91LKR 9,158
219.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.55
$3.10LKR 1,016
327.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$10.96LKR 3,596
77.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾178
$7.43LKR 2,438
820.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.73
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.30
$4.44LKR 1,455
49.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾948
$15.53LKR 5,094
2240.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$120LKR 39.4K
8769.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$20.29LKR 6,657
410.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$9.37LKR 3,074
314.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$60.5LKR 19.8K
92.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$24.25LKR 7,955
406.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,780
$90.2LKR 29.6K
656.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,165
$55.6LKR 18.2K
703.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,349
$307LKR 100.7K
318.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,399
$166LKR 54.6K
453.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,486
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,711
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,684
$230LKR 75.4K
181.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
10
27.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Gampaha: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $90.2 in Gampaha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 181% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $18.00 in Gampaha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $219 per month, with Gampaha cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tbilisi vs Gampaha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Gampaha?
Tbilisi and Gampaha differ by about 180% in total monthly costs ($1,286 vs $459 including rent). Gampaha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Gampaha?
Average pay runs 181% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Gampaha?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $90.2 in Gampaha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Gampaha?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $15.53 in Gampaha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gampaha – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $459 in Gampaha versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gampaha but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Gampaha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Gampaha?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Gampaha safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Gampaha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Gampaha?
Expats usually find Gampaha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.