😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $773 in Ialoveni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $1,249 in Ialoveni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $1,726 in Ialoveni.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 52% more expensive than in Ialoveni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Ialoveni42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₾29.33
$8.52MDL 147
30.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$24.36MDL 421
77.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.62
$7.38MDL 127
15.85%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$1.79MDL 30.85
65.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$0.91MDL 15.75
-16.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.64MDL 11.14
-28.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.87
$1.71MDL 29.61
29.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.72
$2.39MDL 41.28
22.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$1.24MDL 21.46
58.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$0.52MDL 8.91
40.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$0.73MDL 12.68
149.32%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$2.54MDL 43.82
-1.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.26
$5.35MDL 92.4
43.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.58
$5.50MDL 95.0
14.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.12
$4.93MDL 85.2
92.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$0.86MDL 14.84
43.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.32
$1.83MDL 31.55
-10.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$1.72MDL 29.73
8.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.01
$2.10MDL 36.37
8.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$0.78MDL 13.50
-14.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.78
$0.58MDL 10.10
15.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$1.30MDL 22.54
-6.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$0.83MDL 14.41
-15.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.72
$3.20MDL 55.3
-8.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.40
$4.67MDL 80.7
65.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$1.22MDL 21.15
27.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$1.97MDL 34.09
12.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.34MDL 5.86
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.78
$7.04MDL 122
108.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$2.10MDL 36.27
-31.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.25MDL 4.31
176.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.50
$5.29MDL 91.4
39.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.36MDL 23.50
-16.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.0K
$32.7KMDL 565.0K
-44.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
$30.8KMDL 532.9K
-33.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$172MDL 2,975
-57.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.78
$7.38MDL 127
57.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.62
$10.63MDL 184
65.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$29.42MDL 508
108.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.55
$11.48MDL 198
46.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.69
$6.00MDL 104
11.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾698
$396MDL 6,836
-33.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
$7,743MDL 133.8K
-33.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
$46.04MDL 796
63.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
$28.75MDL 497
50.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
$87.8MDL 1,516
33.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
$98.6MDL 1,704
13.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,866
$173MDL 2,987
308.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,220
$119MDL 2,054
288.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,486
$373MDL 6,441
253.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,064
$383MDL 6,616
103.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,512
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,725
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ialoveni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,778
$609MDL 10.5K
10.35%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Ialoveni: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $173 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 $206 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 52% 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: $706 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 compared to Ialoveni?
A monthly transit pass in Ialoveni runs roughly 108% 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 $264 in Tbilisi versus $396 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 $773 in Ialoveni versus $1,178 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 $773 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 52% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.