Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Makassar Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Makassar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $665 in Makassar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,003 in Makassar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,341 in Makassar.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 80% more expensive than in Makassar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Makassar 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.39
$3.03 Rp 54.3K
257.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$9.36 Rp 167.9K
368.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.80
$3.00 Rp 53.9K
177.00%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$1.80 Rp 32.4K
65.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
18.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.40 Rp 7,137
15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$3.61 Rp 64.7K
-40.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$3.63 Rp 65.1K
-20.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.63 Rp 29.3K
16.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.08 Rp 19.4K
-34.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
198.44%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
73.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$5.37 Rp 96.4K
44.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.21
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
118.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.12
$4.26 Rp 76.4K
124.65%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$2.23 Rp 40.1K
-47.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$1.59 Rp 28.5K
3.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
1.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
48.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.25 Rp 22.5K
-43.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
-57.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.45 Rp 7,996
164.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.47 Rp 8,467
40.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$2.52 Rp 45.2K
15.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.18
$22.33 Rp 400.6K
-65.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$2.02 Rp 36.2K
-21.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
-4.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.30 Rp 5,294
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.72
$4.56 Rp 81.9K
223.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
167.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.29 Rp 5,126
134.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.04
$3.13 Rp 56.1K
131.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
39.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$16.7K Rp 299.7M
11.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$18.4K Rp 330.9M
10.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾192
$66.8 Rp 1.2M
9.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.41
$3.59 Rp 64.4K
233.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.22
$32.49 Rp 582.8K
-44.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$23.23 Rp 416.7K
162.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.34
$6.09 Rp 109.3K
171.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$3.15 Rp 56.5K
112.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$106 Rp 1.9M
152.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$4,103 Rp 73.6M
25.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$29.14 Rp 522.7K
162.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$25.17 Rp 451.6K
72.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$83.2 Rp 1.5M
44.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$43.19 Rp 774.8K
155.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,803
$214 Rp 3.8M
220.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$168 Rp 3.0M
180.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,550
$425 Rp 7.6M
218.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$338 Rp 6.1M
133.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,473
$1,355 Rp 24.3M
82.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,818
$545 Rp 9.8M
166.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$209 Rp 3.7M
215.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6
98.17%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Makassar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $214 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 216% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Makassar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $188 per month, with Makassar 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 Makassar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Makassar?
Makassar wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makassar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Makassar?
Average pay runs 216% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Makassar?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $214 in Makassar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Makassar?
A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 224% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Makassar?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $106 in Makassar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Makassar?
At $665 in Makassar versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makassar but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Makassar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Makassar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makassar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $665 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makassar hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Makassar?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Makassar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makassar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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