😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $771 in Malaybalay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,185 in Malaybalay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,599 in Malaybalay.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 54% more expensive than Malaybalay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Malaybalay42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$4.38₱270
154.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$16.06₱991
168.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$3.98₱245
106.53%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.07₱128
51.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.55₱33.79
34.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.37₱22.59
21.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.04₱64.3
104.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$1.80₱111
66.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.69₱104
11.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.21₱74.6
-39.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.99₱61.2
86.87%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.00₱124
22.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$5.92₱365
32.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$4.58₱283
36.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$7.38₱455
32.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.95₱182
-58.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.13₱69.6
40.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$2.38₱147
-24.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.36₱84.0
70.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$2.28₱141
-68.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$3.25₱200
-79.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.33₱81.9
-11.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.60₱36.93
18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$2.62₱162
11.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$8.37₱517
-13.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.35₱83.3
14.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.57₱96.9
47.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.26₱15.93
46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.88₱54.2
68.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.23₱14.19
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$2.15₱133
246.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.09₱67.2
5.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$22.1K₱1.4M
-18.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$20.8K₱1.3M
-4.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$105₱6,462
-29.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$33.95₱2,094
-65.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$36.58₱2,256
-51.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$34.51₱2,129
75.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$4.47₱276
267.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$4.40₱271
47.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$119₱7,347
120.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$4,368₱269.4K
17.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$45.94₱2,834
69.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$30.59₱1,887
45.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$77.7₱4,793
51.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$67.8₱4,183
68.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$264₱16.3K
163.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$174₱10.8K
165.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$589₱36.3K
127.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$391₱24.1K
99.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$2,027₱125.0K
24.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Malaybalay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.56
24.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Malaybalay: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $264 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $16.00 in Malaybalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $194 per month, with Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Malaybalay?
Tbilisi and Malaybalay differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $771 including rent). Malaybalay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Malaybalay?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,156 in Malaybalay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Malaybalay?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $264 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Malaybalay?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $119 in Malaybalay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Malaybalay – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $771 in Malaybalay versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malaybalay but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Malaybalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Malaybalay?
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 Malaybalay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay?
Expats usually find Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.