Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Maharagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $131 a month against $1,278 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Maharagama
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$131
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Maharagama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Maharagama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Tbilisi vs $131 in Maharagama, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,278
  • Maharagama $131

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Tbilisi vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,017
  • Maharagama $246

A family of three spends $2,755 per month in Tbilisi vs $361 in Maharagama, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,755
  • Maharagama $361

Tbilisi costs about 878% more than Maharagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Tbilisi and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 5% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 ₾30.07
$5.30 LKR 1,761
119.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.41 ₾99.4
$20.24 LKR 6,733
89.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.20
$6.67 LKR 2,220
46.03%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ₾9.21
$2.11 LKR 702
68.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.80
$0.64 LKR 213
68.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.46
$0.29 LKR 95.3
93.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 ₾7.05
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₾8.09
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₾5.55
$0.87 LKR 288
145.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$0.23 LKR 76.1
226.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$0.50 LKR 167
260.00%
Eggs
$2.80 ₾7.25
$1.42 LKR 474
97.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 ₾24.41
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.00 ₾18.10
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ₾32.83
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ₾4.22
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.77
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.09
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₾6.39
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₾1.95
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.74
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₾3.66
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.86
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₾20.40
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₾6.12
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾0.98
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₾39.56
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$0.44 LKR 146
170.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.46 LKR 154
60.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.89 ₾30.76
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₾3.77
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾64.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₾59.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₾228
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ₾32.87
$4.55 LKR 1,514
179.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79 ₾51.2
$13.38 LKR 4,450
47.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 ₾166
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.17 ₾49.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 ₾17.20
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₾961
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,163 ₾23.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾264
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 ₾103
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾306
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾310
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₾1,784
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,193
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 ₾3,523
$198 LKR 65.9K
587.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 ₾2,321
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₾5,891
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₾3,564
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Maharagama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$710 ₾1,836
$240 LKR 79.7K
196.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.53
0
-

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

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$461
Maharagama
–
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$235
Maharagama
–
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Maharagama
–
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Maharagama
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Maharagama
–
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Maharagama
–
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Maharagama
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Tbilisi are about 3 times higher, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi versus $20 in Maharagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $19 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇱🇰 Maharagama
🕒 Local time
11:54 11:54 AM
13:24 1:24 PM
1 h 30 min ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
196,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 374 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Maharagama 5,190 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Maharagama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maharagama cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 878%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $196 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Maharagama?
Groceries cost about 1161% more in Tbilisi, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Maharagama?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi and $20 in Maharagama. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Maharagama?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $131, than in Tbilisi at $1,278. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maharagama costs $131 versus $1,278 in Tbilisi. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Maharagama?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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