Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lugoj Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lugoj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $827 in Lugoj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,264 in Lugoj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,700 in Lugoj.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 47% more expensive than Lugoj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Lugoj 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$9.39 RON 42.46
15.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$27.26 RON 123
62.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$5.71 RON 25.85
45.01%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$1.12 RON 5.09
169.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$1.14 RON 5.15
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.88 RON 3.96
-47.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$2.25 RON 10.18
-0.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$1.59 RON 7.18
88.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.55 RON 7.01
24.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.01 RON 4.57
-28.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$0.71 RON 3.23
159.15%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.35 RON 6.10
81.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$3.79 RON 17.12
96.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$4.28 RON 19.38
51.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$4.67 RON 21.14
107.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$1.13 RON 5.11
6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.35 RON 6.09
15.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.52 RON 6.86
17.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$0.66 RON 3.00
237.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.67 RON 3.02
-2.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$0.66 RON 2.98
3.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.79 RON 3.56
50.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.66 RON 2.98
6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$5.28 RON 23.89
-44.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$4.31 RON 19.49
70.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$1.32 RON 5.96
15.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.79 RON 8.11
25.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.67 RON 3.05
-46.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$19.61 RON 88.7
-25.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.57 RON 2.57
163.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.89 RON 4.02
-17.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$6.76 RON 30.60
10.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.59 RON 7.20
-28.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$28.4K RON 128.3K
-34.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$27.3K RON 123.4K
-25.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$56.8 RON 257
30.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$7.99 RON 36.15
46.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$11.37 RON 51.5
59.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$41.20 RON 186
49.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$19.47 RON 88.1
-14.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$6.43 RON 29.09
2.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$446 RON 2,019
-40.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$8,841 RON 40.0K
-41.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$79.2 RON 358
-5.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$37.02 RON 167
18.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$79.6 RON 360
47.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$85.3 RON 386
33.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$383 RON 1,733
80.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$296 RON 1,337
53.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$589 RON 2,665
124.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$444 RON 2,008
77.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$1,710 RON 7,734
42.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$1,357 RON 6,139
6.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lugoj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$982 RON 4,444
-34.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6.28
89.33%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Lugoj: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $383 in Lugoj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lugoj pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $27.00 in Lugoj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $137 per month, with Lugoj 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 Lugoj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Lugoj?
Tbilisi and Lugoj differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $827 including rent). Lugoj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lugoj earns 52% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Lugoj?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $383 in Lugoj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Lugoj?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $827 in Lugoj – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Lugoj?
A monthly transit pass in Lugoj runs roughly 34% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $827 in Lugoj versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lugoj but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Lugoj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Lugoj?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Lugoj safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Lugoj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Lugoj?
Expats usually find Lugoj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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