Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ialoveni Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ialoveni

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Tbilisi 9% lower, Ialoveni 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.44
$8.51 MDL 148
33.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$30.38 MDL 529
27.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.72
$10.77 MDL 187
-11.61%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$2.23 MDL 38.73
52.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.26 MDL 21.84
-17.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.83 MDL 14.40
-22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$2.32 MDL 40.40
12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$2.27 MDL 39.49
42.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.30 MDL 22.66
66.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$0.66 MDL 11.41
12.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$0.72 MDL 12.52
137.50%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$2.80 MDL 48.70
1.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$6.86 MDL 119
34.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$5.40 MDL 94.0
25.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$5.04 MDL 87.8
153.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.01 MDL 17.53
62.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.93 MDL 33.62
-8.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$2.06 MDL 35.78
-9.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$2.42 MDL 42.09
0.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.75 MDL 13.03
16.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.58 MDL 10.02
12.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$1.39 MDL 24.17
0.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.93 MDL 16.13
-20.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$3.42 MDL 59.5
-0.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$4.83 MDL 84.1
57.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.30 MDL 22.66
30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$1.90 MDL 33.08
25.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$0.37 MDL 6.38
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$7.05 MDL 123
116.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$2.28 MDL 39.71
-48.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.25 MDL 4.34
204.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.46
$5.13 MDL 89.2
121.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$1.53 MDL 26.60
-13.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$29.6K MDL 515.5K
-16.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$24.5K MDL 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
$193 MDL 3,363
-54.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$9.83 MDL 171
35.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$11.49 MDL 200
75.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$28.65 MDL 499
139.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.00
$11.43 MDL 199
58.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.45
$7.69 MDL 134
-12.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$114 MDL 1,978
228.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$5,284 MDL 91.9K
102.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$46.60 MDL 811
117.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$28.76 MDL 500
36.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$87.1 MDL 1,516
34.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$97.3 MDL 1,693
25.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$174 MDL 3,027
292.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$117 MDL 2,041
289.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,384
$377 MDL 6,565
245.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$371 MDL 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
$601 MDL 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.

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