😐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: Tbilisi10% lower, Makassar50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$3.03Rp 54.3K
257.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$9.36Rp 167.9K
368.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$3.00Rp 53.9K
177.00%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.80Rp 32.4K
65.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.65Rp 11.7K
18.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.40Rp 7,137
15.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$3.61Rp 64.7K
-40.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$3.63Rp 65.1K
-20.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.63Rp 29.3K
16.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.08Rp 19.4K
-34.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$0.64Rp 11.4K
198.44%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.43Rp 25.7K
73.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$5.37Rp 96.4K
44.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$2.83Rp 50.8K
118.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$4.26Rp 76.4K
124.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.23Rp 40.1K
-47.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.59Rp 28.5K
3.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.83Rp 32.7K
1.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.57Rp 28.1K
48.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.25Rp 22.5K
-43.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.56Rp 28.0K
-57.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.45Rp 7,996
164.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.47Rp 8,467
40.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.52Rp 45.2K
15.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$22.33Rp 400.6K
-65.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.02Rp 36.2K
-21.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.43Rp 43.5K
-4.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.30Rp 5,294
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
$4.56Rp 81.9K
223.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.56Rp 10.1K
167.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.29Rp 5,126
134.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$3.13Rp 56.1K
131.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.78Rp 14.0K
39.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$16.7KRp 299.7M
11.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$18.4KRp 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
$66.8Rp 1.2M
9.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$3.59Rp 64.4K
233.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$32.49Rp 582.8K
-44.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$23.23Rp 416.7K
162.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$6.09Rp 109.3K
171.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$3.15Rp 56.5K
112.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$106Rp 1.9M
152.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$4,103Rp 73.6M
25.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$29.14Rp 522.7K
162.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$25.17Rp 451.6K
72.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$83.2Rp 1.5M
44.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$43.19Rp 774.8K
155.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$214Rp 3.8M
220.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$168Rp 3.0M
180.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$425Rp 7.6M
218.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$338Rp 6.1M
133.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$1,355Rp 24.3M
82.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$545Rp 9.8M
166.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$209Rp 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.