Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Malda Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Malda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $525 in Malda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $679 in Malda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $834 in Malda.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 124% more expensive than in Malda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Malda 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09 ₾29.33
$3.14 ₹297
253.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24 ₾114
$11.60 ₹1,094
272.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ₾22.62
$3.58 ₹338
138.83%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.86
$1.84 ₹174
61.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.01
$0.37 ₹35.13
105.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.15 ₹14.14
206.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ₾5.87
$1.69 ₹160
31.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$2.89 ₹272
1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₾5.21
$0.59 ₹55.5
233.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.94
$0.39 ₹37.01
87.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.81
$0.53 ₹49.91
243.40%
Eggs
$2.49 ₾6.60
$0.78 ₹73.4
219.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.66 ₾20.26
$5.54 ₹523
38.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 ₾16.58
$2.50 ₹236
150.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.50 ₾25.12
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 ₾3.24
$2.45 ₹231
-49.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.32
$0.80 ₹75.4
105.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.95
$1.31 ₹124
42.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₾6.01
$0.66 ₹62.3
243.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.77
$0.30 ₹28.58
123.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.78
$0.31 ₹29.03
116.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₾3.23
$0.45 ₹42.19
171.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.85
$0.18 ₹17.16
288.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$3.88 ₹366
-24.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 ₾20.40
$8.65 ₹816
-10.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.09
$1.68 ₹158
-7.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₾5.86
$2.49 ₹235
-10.84%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.39 ₹226
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.28 ₹26.23
39.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.67 ₾38.78
$8.88 ₹838
65.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₾3.82
$0.61 ₹57.4
136.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.30 ₹28.36
130.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 ₾19.50
$2.01 ₹190
266.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.03
$1.24 ₹117
-8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾48.0K
$15.4K ₹1.5M
17.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₾54.1K
$22.7K ₹2.1M
-9.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 ₾195
$41.23 ₹3,889
78.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.78
$3.84 ₹362
203.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63 ₾46.62
$5.95 ₹561
196.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 ₾162
$16.09 ₹1,518
281.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85 ₾44.55
$6.93 ₹653
143.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 ₾17.69
$4.03 ₹380
66.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾698
$43.19 ₹4,074
511.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,169 ₾13.7K
$1,593 ₹150.2K
224.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1 ₾199
$8.06 ₹760
831.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26 ₾114
$8.00 ₹755
440.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾311
$49.75 ₹4,692
136.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾295
$9.08 ₹857
1127.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₾1,866
$296 ₹27.9K
138.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,220
$235 ₹22.1K
96.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 ₾3,486
$411 ₹38.7K
220.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$781 ₾2,064
$182 ₹17.1K
329.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 ₾6,512
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 ₾3,725
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$672 ₾1,778
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
9.9
20.10%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Malda: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $296 in Malda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $12.00 in Malda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $106 per month, with Malda 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 Malda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malda cheaper than Tbilisi?
Malda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,767 in Tbilisi and $787 in Malda 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.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Malda?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $296 in Malda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Malda?
Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Malda?
Dining out is cheaper in Malda – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Malda?
At $525 in Malda versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malda but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Malda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Malda more family-friendly?
For families, Malda is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Malda?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Malda 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Malda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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