Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Hikkaduwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Hikkaduwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $508 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $825 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,142 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 145% more expensive than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Hikkaduwa 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$4.31 LKR 1,426

162.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$25.74 LKR 8,522

50.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$7.54 LKR 2,497

26.26%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.48 LKR 822

37.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.72 LKR 240

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.27 LKR 89.4

137.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.24 LKR 742

16.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$2.97 LKR 982

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.63 LKR 541

33.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.52 LKR 173

42.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.80 LKR 266

113.75%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.59 LKR 526

77.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$13.41 LKR 4,441

-31.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.97 LKR 1,645

36.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$7.46 LKR 2,471

71.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$6.62 LKR 2,191

-75.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$0.89 LKR 296

98.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$4.30 LKR 1,424

-56.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.30 LKR 429

87.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.06 LKR 351

-17.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.80 LKR 265

-18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.94 LKR 312

48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.45 LKR 149

64.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$10.57 LKR 3,499

-67.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$13.99 LKR 4,631

-45.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.91 LKR 631

-10.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$2.81 LKR 929

-15.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.42 LKR 138

180.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.35 LKR 117

117.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$0.88 LKR 290

1188.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.33 LKR 440

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$30.9K LKR 10.2M

-19.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$42.0K LKR 13.9M

-47.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

$55.7 LKR 18.4K

59.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.63

$4.26 LKR 1,411

212.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$21.20 LKR 7,019

-5.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$4.39 LKR 1,455

53.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾971

$37.44 LKR 12.4K

897.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$1,215 LKR 402.2K

780.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$20.48 LKR 6,782

394.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$16.57 LKR 5,488

137.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$80.0 LKR 26.5K

46.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$43.00 LKR 14.2K

184.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

12.69

-0.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $26.00 in Hikkaduwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $238, 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 Hikkaduwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $762 in Hikkaduwa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $508 in Hikkaduwa – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $508 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Hikkaduwa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Hikkaduwa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.