🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,521 in Hulhumale.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $2,721 in Hulhumale.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $3,921 in Hulhumale.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 20% less than in Hulhumale, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Hulhumale is 13% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$5.38MVR 83.0
101.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$29.74MVR 459
48.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$9.59MVR 148
-13.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.43MVR 68.4
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79MVR 58.4
-
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.94MVR 45.30
2.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.27MVR 19.58
-40.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.27MVR 4.19
70.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.81MVR 27.90
6.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.57MVR 24.15
-54.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$0.31MVR 4.71
493.55%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.53MVR 23.60
60.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$8.22MVR 127
-9.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$6.11MVR 94.2
6.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$8.65MVR 133
12.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$4.01MVR 61.8
-70.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$3.73MVR 57.5
-58.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$4.39MVR 67.7
-59.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$3.22MVR 49.66
-30.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.55MVR 23.96
-58.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.23MVR 18.96
-44.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$3.13MVR 48.29
-61.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.50MVR 7.68
40.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$12.23MVR 189
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.66MVR 41.07
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.00MVR 154
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$8.34MVR 129
-64.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.98MVR 30.56
-24.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$1.92MVR 29.68
-61.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$9.52MVR 147
-21.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$0.96MVR 14.84
18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$32.6KMVR 502.3K
-43.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$34.4KMVR 530.5K
-41.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$107MVR 1,650
-30.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$42.13MVR 650
-72.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$42.52MVR 656
-57.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$65.1MVR 1,004
-5.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$9.52MVR 147
-30.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$160MVR 2,460
65.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$3,594MVR 55.4K
43.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$45.16MVR 696
65.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$56.3MVR 868
-21.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$88.7MVR 1,368
32.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$53.4MVR 823
113.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$1,294MVR 20.0K
-46.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$768MVR 11.8K
-40.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$2,918MVR 45.0K
-54.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$2,283MVR 35.2K
-65.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$5,384MVR 83.0K
-54.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$494MVR 7,620
191.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Hulhumale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$710MVR 10.9K
-9.12%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Hulhumale: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $1,294 in Hulhumale. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hulhumale pays 10% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $30.00 in Hulhumale. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $224, 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 25% 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 10% 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: $692 in Tbilisi versus $1,294 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 $264 in Tbilisi versus $160 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 $44.00 versus $30.00 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,521 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 $1,218 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 25% less than in Hulhumale. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.