😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $787 in Ialoveni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,268 in Ialoveni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,749 in Ialoveni.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 51% more expensive than Ialoveni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Ialoveni41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$8.95MDL 154
24.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$25.01MDL 431
72.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$7.48MDL 129
9.89%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$1.81MDL 31.14
72.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.97MDL 16.77
-23.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.70MDL 12.12
-35.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.77MDL 30.47
20.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.32MDL 39.98
28.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.23MDL 21.30
53.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.52MDL 9.04
40.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.72MDL 12.44
156.94%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.60MDL 44.84
-5.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$5.30MDL 91.5
48.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$5.55MDL 95.7
12.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$5.15MDL 88.8
89.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$0.90MDL 15.57
34.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.83MDL 31.49
-13.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.70MDL 29.27
5.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$2.07MDL 35.74
12.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.77MDL 13.24
-7.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.56MDL 9.62
19.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.30MDL 22.46
-9.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.88MDL 15.22
-19.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.27MDL 56.4
-10.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$4.99MDL 86.1
45.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.21MDL 20.79
28.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.90MDL 32.79
21.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.34MDL 5.82
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$6.82MDL 118
117.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.11MDL 36.41
-29.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.25MDL 4.30
176.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$5.14MDL 88.7
44.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.37MDL 23.61
-16.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$32.4KMDL 559.0K
-44.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$31.1KMDL 535.8K
-36.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$172MDL 2,975
-57.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$7.69MDL 133
51.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$10.63MDL 183
67.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$29.00MDL 500
108.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$11.64MDL 201
41.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$6.00MDL 103
8.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$390MDL 6,727
-32.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$7,571MDL 130.6K
-32.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$47.34MDL 817
64.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$29.42MDL 508
50.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$88.1MDL 1,520
33.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$99.2MDL 1,712
15.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$173MDL 2,987
300.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$116MDL 2,003
298.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$386MDL 6,655
246.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$373MDL 6,428
109.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$598MDL 10.3K
5.82%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ialoveni: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $173 in Ialoveni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 6% 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 $25.00 in Ialoveni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $162 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 Ialoveni?
Tbilisi pays 6% more on average, 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 vs Ialoveni?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $173 in Ialoveni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Ialoveni?
A monthly transit pass in Ialoveni runs roughly 117% 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 Ialoveni?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $390 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 Ialoveni?
At $787 in Ialoveni versus $1,185 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 $787 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.