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: $1,191 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: Tbilisi 11% lower, Ialoveni 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$8.80 MDL 153
23.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$24.08 MDL 419
79.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$7.74 MDL 135
10.21%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$1.87 MDL 32.57
59.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$0.94 MDL 16.30
-13.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$0.65 MDL 11.35
-35.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$1.76 MDL 30.64
22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$2.41 MDL 41.81
19.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.29 MDL 22.36
50.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.56 MDL 9.67
21.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$0.68 MDL 11.74
172.06%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$2.52 MDL 43.79
0.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$5.12 MDL 89.0
47.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$5.38 MDL 93.4
16.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$5.06 MDL 87.9
89.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$0.83 MDL 14.42
39.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.78 MDL 30.86
-7.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$1.76 MDL 30.60
6.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$2.07 MDL 35.99
7.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.83 MDL 14.45
-15.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$0.60 MDL 10.38
6.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$1.36 MDL 23.59
-13.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.88 MDL 15.34
-20.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$3.18 MDL 55.2
-6.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$4.49 MDL 78.1
65.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.23 MDL 21.37
25.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.96 MDL 34.10
16.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.36 MDL 6.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$6.91 MDL 120
113.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$2.06 MDL 35.87
-31.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.25 MDL 4.33
176.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$5.30 MDL 92.2
37.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.37 MDL 23.80
-20.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$31.6K MDL 549.0K
-41.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$31.1K MDL 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
$175 MDL 3,034
-57.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$7.74 MDL 135
51.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$11.02 MDL 192
59.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$29.38 MDL 511
105.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$11.87 MDL 206
37.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$5.72 MDL 99.4
13.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$386 MDL 6,715
-30.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$7,545 MDL 131.1K
-31.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$47.32 MDL 822
62.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$28.82 MDL 501
50.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$86.6 MDL 1,505
36.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$100 MDL 1,745
12.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$177 MDL 3,069
301.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$115 MDL 1,995
304.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$384 MDL 6,676
242.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$373 MDL 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
$600 MDL 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.

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