😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $828 in Ialoveni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,338 in Ialoveni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,849 in Ialoveni.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 51% more expensive than in Ialoveni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Ialoveni40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.44
$8.51MDL 148
33.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$30.38MDL 529
27.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.72
$10.77MDL 187
-11.61%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.23MDL 38.73
52.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.26MDL 21.84
-17.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.83MDL 14.40
-22.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.32MDL 40.40
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$2.27MDL 39.49
42.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.30MDL 22.66
66.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$0.66MDL 11.41
12.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$0.72MDL 12.52
137.50%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.80MDL 48.70
1.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$6.86MDL 119
34.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$5.40MDL 94.0
25.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$5.04MDL 87.8
153.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.01MDL 17.53
62.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.93MDL 33.62
-8.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$2.06MDL 35.78
-9.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$2.42MDL 42.09
0.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$0.75MDL 13.03
16.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.58MDL 10.02
12.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$1.39MDL 24.17
0.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.93MDL 16.13
-20.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$3.42MDL 59.5
-0.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$4.83MDL 84.1
57.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.30MDL 22.66
30.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$1.90MDL 33.08
25.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.37MDL 6.38
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$7.05MDL 123
116.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$2.28MDL 39.71
-48.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.25MDL 4.34
204.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.46
$5.13MDL 89.2
121.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.53MDL 26.60
-13.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$29.6KMDL 515.5K
-16.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$24.5KMDL 426.4K
-10.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$193MDL 3,363
-54.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$9.83MDL 171
35.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$11.49MDL 200
75.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$28.65MDL 499
139.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.00
$11.43MDL 199
58.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.45
$7.69MDL 134
-12.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$114MDL 1,978
228.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$5,284MDL 91.9K
102.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$46.60MDL 811
117.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$28.76MDL 500
36.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$87.1MDL 1,516
34.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$97.3MDL 1,693
25.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$174MDL 3,027
292.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$117MDL 2,041
289.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,384
$377MDL 6,565
245.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$371MDL 6,447
142.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,364
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$601MDL 10.5K
8.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
8
57.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ialoveni: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $174 in Ialoveni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 9% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $30.00 in Ialoveni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $173 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 51% 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 9% 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $174 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 116% 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 $374 in Tbilisi versus $114 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 $828 in Ialoveni versus $1,247 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 $828 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 51% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.