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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $496 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $684 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $872 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

$10.82 ₾28.38

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$5.09 LKR 1,712

63.26%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$3.43 LKR 1,152

-13.41%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$0.48 LKR 161

60.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.32 LKR 107

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$3.32 LKR 1,116

-35.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$6.84 LKR 2,300

-58.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$0.50 LKR 168

42.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$0.71 LKR 237

169.01%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$1.58 LKR 531

56.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$4.99 LKR 1,676

55.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$3.43 LKR 1,154

80.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$6.55 LKR 2,200

46.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$4.07 LKR 1,367

-71.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$0.52 LKR 173

217.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$3.41 LKR 1,147

-45.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$1.63 LKR 549

42.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$1.11 LKR 374

-36.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$0.78 LKR 263

-14.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$0.69 LKR 231

72.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$0.44 LKR 146

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$12.96 LKR 4,355

-77.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$17.81 LKR 5,986

-56.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$2.86 LKR 962

-44.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.32 LKR 107

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

$3.33 LKR 1,118

343.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$0.51 LKR 172

194.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.02 LKR 342

6.86%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$50.1K LKR 16.8M

-59.14%

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

$73.0 ₾191

$49.29 LKR 16.6K

48.10%

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$3.27 LKR 1,099

266.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$6.59 LKR 2,216

825.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$2.03 LKR 681

230.05%

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

$269 ₾705

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$39.62 LKR 13.3K

93.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$165 LKR 55.4K

316.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$150 LKR 50.5K

212.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$247 LKR 83.1K

447.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$215 LKR 72.3K

266.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $165 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: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $496 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $744 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 343% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $496 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 $496, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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 $496 in Jaffna to $1,197 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.