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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $497 in Jaffna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $794 in Jaffna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,090 in Jaffna, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 158% more than Jaffna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Jaffna are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Jaffna 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.55

$1.05 LKR 345

1016.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.8

$39.85 LKR 13.1K

-4.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.41

$4.70 LKR 1,541

107.23%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.90

$3.26 LKR 1,069

4.60%

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

$1.06 ₾2.76

$1.70 LKR 559

-37.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.52 LKR 171

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.05

$3.54 LKR 1,161

-23.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.08

$6.04 LKR 1,981

-48.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.73

$0.72 LKR 236

205.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$0.45 LKR 148

80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$0.59 LKR 195

177.97%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.18

$1.43 LKR 469

92.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.50

$4.63 LKR 1,520

94.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.09

$3.28 LKR 1,075

99.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.91

$6.05 LKR 1,985

108.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$3.64 LKR 1,194

-54.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

$0.50 LKR 164

262.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.03

$3.00 LKR 985

-35.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$1.56 LKR 512

66.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$1.03 LKR 336

-15.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.68

$0.63 LKR 208

3.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

$0.60 LKR 196

131.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$0.39 LKR 129

105.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$11.62 LKR 3,811

-71.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.66

$18.23 LKR 5,982

-58.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$2.54 LKR 835

-36.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.29 LKR 95.0

27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.41

$3.13 LKR 1,028

382.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.05

$0.45 LKR 146

160.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

$0.23 LKR 75.2

247.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$1.23 LKR 402

8.13%

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

$25.0K ₾65.2K

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

$22.4K ₾58.4K

$45.7K LKR 15.0M

-51.06%

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

$89.1 ₾232

$45.93 LKR 15.1K

94.01%

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

$13.25 ₾34.55

$3.07 LKR 1,008

331.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾178

$5.92 LKR 1,943

1055.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.73

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.30

$1.81 LKR 594

266.30%

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

$363 ₾948

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

$37.00 LKR 12.1K

179.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,780

$152 LKR 49.8K

349.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,165

$137 LKR 45.1K

225.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,349

$224 LKR 73.5K

472.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,399

$195 LKR 64.0K

371.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,486

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,711

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,684

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jaffna: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $152 in Jaffna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $40.00 in Jaffna. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $170 in Jaffna – so Jaffna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $497 in Jaffna – roughly 158% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $746 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 383% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. 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 $497 in Jaffna to $1,286 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.