Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Jaffna Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Jaffna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $499 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $699 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $900 in Jaffna, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 142% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Jaffna are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Jaffna 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$4.93 LKR 1,636

68.15%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$3.32 LKR 1,101

-9.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.52 LKR 172

57.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.34 LKR 114

35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$3.44 LKR 1,139

-35.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$6.61 LKR 2,193

-55.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.50 LKR 166

36.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$0.67 LKR 221

180.60%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$1.65 LKR 546

53.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$4.96 LKR 1,646

49.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$3.47 LKR 1,151

78.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$6.60 LKR 2,187

41.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$4.12 LKR 1,366

-70.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$0.57 LKR 188

191.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$3.25 LKR 1,078

-44.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$1.70 LKR 563

31.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$1.12 LKR 370

-36.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$0.78 LKR 258

-14.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$0.65 LKR 216

81.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.41 LKR 135

60.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$12.80 LKR 4,245

-76.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$17.84 LKR 5,914

-57.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$2.86 LKR 948

-46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.32 LKR 105

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

$3.43 LKR 1,137

320.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$0.51 LKR 169

192.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.01 LKR 336

12.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ₾49.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K ₾53.1K

$51.2K LKR 17.0M

-61.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.7 ₾196

$50.8 LKR 16.8K

45.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾30.92

$3.37 LKR 1,117

245.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$6.81 LKR 2,257

782.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$1.95 LKR 647

238.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$266 ₾708

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$40.42 LKR 13.4K

92.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$167 LKR 55.3K

315.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$152 LKR 50.4K

203.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$254 LKR 84.3K

418.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$217 LKR 72.1K

256.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $167 in Jaffna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Jaffna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $499 in Jaffna – roughly 142% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $748 in Jaffna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jaffna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 321% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $499 in Jaffna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $499, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Jaffna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $499 in Jaffna to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jaffna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.