😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $967 in Malatya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,478 in Malatya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,988 in Malatya.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 23% more expensive than in Malatya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Malatya27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$3.48₺166
213.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$25.33₺1,204
70.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$6.18₺294
38.03%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$2.19₺104
36.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$1.00₺47.35
-19.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.39₺18.62
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$3.08₺146
-29.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$3.39₺161
-15.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.07₺51.0
81.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.45₺21.20
51.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.98₺94.2
-6.57%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$2.72₺129
-6.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$11.25₺535
-33.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$4.98₺237
25.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$20.89₺993
-54.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$1.17₺55.5
-0.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$2.01₺95.6
-18.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.03₺48.77
82.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.16₺55.2
92.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.86₺41.10
-18.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$0.75₺35.50
-14.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$0.67₺31.78
76.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.38₺18.29
84.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$2.17₺103
36.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$8.48₺403
-12.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$2.47₺117
-37.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$3.46₺165
-34.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.64₺30.25
-43.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$30.23₺1,437
-51.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$1.09₺52.0
30.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.61₺29.11
13.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$7.77₺369
-6.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.09₺51.6
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$41.3K₺2.0M
-55.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$44.3K₺2.1M
-53.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$60.9₺2,896
22.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$9.11₺433
28.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$8.99₺427
95.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$43.34₺2,060
39.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$2.58₺123
152.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$620₺29.5K
-56.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$8,918₺423.9K
-42.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$18.98₺902
306.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$25.48₺1,211
70.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$76.4₺3,630
54.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$51.6₺2,453
118.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$512₺24.3K
38.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$396₺18.8K
17.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$878₺41.7K
49.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$705₺33.5K
8.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Malatya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$960₺45.6K
-30.92%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Malatya: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $512 in Malatya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Malatya pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Malatya. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $231, 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 in Malatya?
Tbilisi and Malatya differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $967 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, salaries run 45% lower in Malatya. 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 in Malatya?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $512 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 in Malatya?
A monthly transit pass in Malatya runs roughly 105% 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $620 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 $967 in Malatya versus $1,191 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.