Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Machala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $654 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,027 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,399 in Machala.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 82% more expensive than in Machala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Machala 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$2.47 $2.47

341.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$24.02 $24.02

79.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

$6.63 $6.63

28.66%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$2.53 $2.53

18.18%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.73 $0.73

10.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.49 $0.49

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$1.98 $1.98

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$4.56 $4.56

-36.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.04 $1.04

86.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.08 $1.08

-37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$0.90 $0.90

105.56%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$1.45 $1.45

74.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

$3.34 $3.34

125.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$4.06 $4.06

54.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$4.70 $4.70

104.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.03 $2.03

-42.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.10 $1.10

49.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$0.72 $0.72

161.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$1.09 $1.09

104.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.42 $0.42

66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$0.51 $0.51

25.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$0.36 $0.36

227.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$1.02 $1.02

-31.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$4.25 $4.25

-30.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$7.56 $7.56

-1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.60 $1.60

-3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$2.11 $2.11

8.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

$24.28 $24.28

-39.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$1.47 $1.47

-3.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$1.02 $1.02

-32.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$7.83 $7.83

-7.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$0.64 $0.64

70.31%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

$17.7K $17.7K

3.53%

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

-7.74%

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

$74.4 ₾195

$38.20 $38.20

94.63%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$13.74 $13.74

-14.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$27.07 $27.07

-34.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$42.37 $42.37

42.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

$14.51 $14.51

12.27%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

$5.04 $5.04

29.17%

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

$269 ₾704

$135 $135

99.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

$5,865 $5,865

-12.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

$53.1 $53.1

45.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

$43.40 $43.40

0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

$80.5 $80.5

47.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$67.6 $67.6

66.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$187 $187

279.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$133 $133

249.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$354 $354

271.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$256 $256

199.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

$1,175 $1,175

112.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

$745 $745

93.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$446 $446

48.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

137.80%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Machala: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $187 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 49% 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 Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $143 per month, with Machala 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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $187 in Machala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $654 in Machala – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $654 in Machala versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Machala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.