😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $495 in Gampaha.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $868 in Gampaha.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,241 in Gampaha.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 144% more expensive than Gampaha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Gampaha63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$1.63LKR 542
562.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$25.26LKR 8,423
70.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$5.08LKR 1,693
63.19%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.22LKR 739
35.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.70LKR 233
17.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.37LKR 125
24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.13LKR 710
4.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$1.64LKR 548
78.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.73LKR 576
11.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.52LKR 174
30.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$0.73LKR 245
157.53%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$2.21LKR 737
14.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$14.25LKR 4,751
-47.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$4.46LKR 1,487
38.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$7.93LKR 2,646
18.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$6.80LKR 2,267
-82.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.07LKR 356
55.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$5.67LKR 1,892
-68.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.25LKR 417
79.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.07LKR 356
-33.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.34LKR 448
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.35LKR 115
237.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.38LKR 127
73.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$10.00LKR 3,333
-70.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$13.06LKR 4,357
-41.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.53LKR 511
0.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.66LKR 888
-15.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.31LKR 105
16.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$0.32LKR 106
365.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.32LKR 108
112.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$0.58LKR 193
1146.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.21LKR 405
-5.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$27.1KLKR 9.0M
-31.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$34.3KLKR 11.4M
-41.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$29.59LKR 9,869
149.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$3.41LKR 1,138
241.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$12.33LKR 4,111
44.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$8.60LKR 2,867
599.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$3.39LKR 1,131
94.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$16.54LKR 5,516
1510.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$136LKR 45.5K
3705.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$28.10LKR 9,371
176.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$10.08LKR 3,363
343.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$67.9LKR 22.6K
72.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$27.03LKR 9,015
317.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$98.5LKR 32.9K
603.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$61.5LKR 20.5K
650.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$341LKR 113.7K
286.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$187LKR 62.2K
315.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$223LKR 74.5K
201.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
10
18.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Gampaha: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $98.5 in Gampaha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 201% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Gampaha. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $243, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Gampaha?
Tbilisi and Gampaha differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $495 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?
Tbilisi pays 201% more on average, 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 Gampaha?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $98.5 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 $266 in Tbilisi versus $16.54 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 $25.00 versus $43.00 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 $495 in Gampaha versus $1,209 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 144% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.