😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $759 in Ialoveni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,236 in Ialoveni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,712 in Ialoveni.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 57% more expensive than in Ialoveni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Ialoveni43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$8.80MDL 153
23.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$24.08MDL 419
79.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$7.74MDL 135
10.21%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$1.87MDL 32.57
59.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$0.94MDL 16.30
-13.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.65MDL 11.35
-35.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$1.76MDL 30.64
22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$2.41MDL 41.81
19.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.29MDL 22.36
50.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.56MDL 9.67
21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$0.68MDL 11.74
172.06%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$2.52MDL 43.79
0.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$5.12MDL 89.0
47.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$5.38MDL 93.4
16.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$5.06MDL 87.9
89.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$0.83MDL 14.42
39.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.78MDL 30.86
-7.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.76MDL 30.60
6.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$2.07MDL 35.99
7.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.83MDL 14.45
-15.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$0.60MDL 10.38
6.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$1.36MDL 23.59
-13.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.88MDL 15.34
-20.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$3.18MDL 55.2
-6.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$4.49MDL 78.1
65.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.23MDL 21.37
25.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$1.96MDL 34.10
16.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.36MDL 6.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$6.91MDL 120
113.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$2.06MDL 35.87
-31.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.25MDL 4.33
176.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$5.30MDL 92.2
37.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.37MDL 23.80
-20.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$31.6KMDL 549.0K
-41.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$31.1KMDL 539.8K
-34.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$175MDL 3,034
-57.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$7.74MDL 135
51.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$11.02MDL 192
59.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$29.38MDL 511
105.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$11.87MDL 206
37.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$5.72MDL 99.4
13.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$386MDL 6,715
-30.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$7,545MDL 131.1K
-31.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$47.32MDL 822
62.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$28.82MDL 501
50.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$86.6MDL 1,505
36.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$100MDL 1,745
12.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$177MDL 3,069
301.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$115MDL 1,995
304.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$384MDL 6,676
242.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$373MDL 6,476
105.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$600MDL 10.4K
10.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.24
28.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ialoveni: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $177 in Ialoveni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $24.00 in Ialoveni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $160 per month, with Ialoveni 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 Ialoveni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Ialoveni?
Ialoveni wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ialoveni the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Ialoveni?
Average pay runs 10% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Ialoveni?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $177 in Ialoveni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Ialoveni?
A monthly transit pass in Ialoveni runs roughly 113% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Ialoveni?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $386 in Ialoveni. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Ialoveni?
At $759 in Ialoveni versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ialoveni but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ialoveni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Ialoveni?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ialoveni delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $759 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ialoveni hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Ialoveni?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ialoveni 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 Ialoveni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.