😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $989 in Malatya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,491 in Malatya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,993 in Malatya.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 23% more expensive than Malatya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Malatya26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$3.63₺168
198.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$25.76₺1,192
71.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$6.21₺287
33.33%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.21₺102
36.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.00₺46.05
-24.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.39₺18.26
17.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.98₺138
-24.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$3.46₺160
-13.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.05₺48.51
83.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.44₺20.46
63.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.98₺91.8
-7.07%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$2.73₺126
-10.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$11.19₺518
-33.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$5.08₺235
27.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$20.63₺955
-52.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$1.15₺53.3
4.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$2.01₺93.1
-22.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.07₺49.30
67.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.20₺55.3
85.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.80₺36.89
-18.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$0.76₺35.32
-10.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.67₺30.92
77.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.38₺17.78
84.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$2.18₺101
35.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$10.87₺503
-32.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$2.47₺114
-38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$3.44₺159
-34.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.67₺30.92
-46.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$30.19₺1,397
-51.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.08₺50.2
38.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.58₺26.78
25.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$7.40₺342
0.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.08₺50.1
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$40.9K₺1.9M
-54.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$43.9K₺2.0M
-53.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$63.0₺2,915
17.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$9.11₺421
28.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$8.91₺412
103.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$44.10₺2,040
39.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$2.59₺120
155.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$602₺27.8K
-56.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$8,865₺410.1K
-41.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$18.92₺875
295.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$25.05₺1,159
75.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$76.6₺3,545
53.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$51.8₺2,395
119.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$517₺23.9K
33.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$396₺18.3K
14.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$901₺41.7K
46.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$719₺33.3K
9.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$959₺44.4K
-32.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
47
-74.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Malatya: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $517 in Malatya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Malatya pays 49% 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 $26.00 in Malatya. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $235, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Malatya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Malatya?
Tbilisi and Malatya differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $989 including rent). Malatya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Malatya earns 49% 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 Malatya?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $517 in Malatya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Malatya?
A monthly transit pass in Malatya runs roughly 107% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Malatya?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $602 in Malatya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $989 in Malatya versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malatya but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Malatya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Malatya?
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 Malatya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Malatya 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 Malatya?
Expats usually find Malatya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.