🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,506 in Hulhumale.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,680 in Hulhumale.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $3,854 in Hulhumale.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 21% less than in Hulhumale, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Hulhumale is 12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$5.41MVR 83.6
106.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$28.88MVR 446
49.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$9.97MVR 154
-17.55%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.58MVR 70.7
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.74MVR 57.8
-
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.84MVR 43.93
10.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.33MVR 20.51
-44.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.25MVR 3.86
80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.78MVR 27.45
6.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.55MVR 23.92
-52.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.33MVR 5.17
460.61%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.54MVR 23.87
59.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.01MVR 124
-2.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$6.05MVR 93.5
3.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$8.63MVR 133
13.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$3.98MVR 61.5
-69.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$3.71MVR 57.3
-57.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$4.21MVR 65.1
-57.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$3.24MVR 50.0
-28.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.52MVR 23.44
-53.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.23MVR 19.08
-45.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$3.06MVR 47.31
-61.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.50MVR 7.68
42.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$12.23MVR 189
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.66MVR 41.16
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.80MVR 151
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$7.92MVR 122
-63.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.00MVR 30.98
-26.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.94MVR 29.93
-64.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$9.98MVR 154
-25.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$0.91MVR 14.12
26.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$32.6KMVR 503.7K
-44.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$34.0KMVR 525.9K
-41.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$108MVR 1,670
-32.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$40.96MVR 633
-71.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$41.62MVR 643
-57.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$65.7MVR 1,015
-7.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$9.89MVR 153
-34.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$165MVR 2,553
58.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$3,595MVR 55.5K
42.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$44.10MVR 681
76.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$56.9MVR 879
-21.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$90.7MVR 1,401
29.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$53.3MVR 824
113.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$1,279MVR 19.8K
-45.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$774MVR 12.0K
-40.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$2,878MVR 44.5K
-53.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$2,292MVR 35.4K
-66.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$5,375MVR 83.0K
-52.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$494MVR 7,632
189.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$709MVR 10.9K
-10.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
12.4
-4.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Hulhumale: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,279 in Hulhumale. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hulhumale pays 12% 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 $29.00 in Hulhumale. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $221, 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 Hulhumale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Hulhumale?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Hulhumale. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Hulhumale?
On paper, Hulhumale earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Hulhumale?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,279 in Hulhumale. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Hulhumale?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $165 in Hulhumale. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Hulhumale?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $29.00 in Hulhumale. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Hulhumale?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,506 in Hulhumale, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Hulhumale. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Hulhumale?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,185 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Hulhumale?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Hulhumale are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Hulhumale. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.