Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Malda

For one person, living is cheaper in Malda: $434 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Malda
🇮🇳 India
$434
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Malda

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Malda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $434 in Malda.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Malda $434

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $620 in Malda.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Malda $620

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $807 in Malda.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Malda $807

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 193% more expensive than in Malda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Malda 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$1.08 ₹102
965.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$13.55 ₹1,287
182.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$4.20 ₹399
133.33%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$1.68 ₹159
111.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$0.49 ₹46.58
116.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.15 ₹14.46
313.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$1.95 ₹185
41.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$3.03 ₹287
-0.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$0.62 ₹58.5
248.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$0.49 ₹46.47
55.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$0.54 ₹51.4
222.22%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$0.78 ₹74.5
257.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$5.34 ₹507
72.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$2.31 ₹219
182.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$2.54 ₹241
-34.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$0.76 ₹72.0
143.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.38 ₹131
43.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$0.54 ₹51.7
364.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.22 ₹20.92
295.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$0.40 ₹38.05
82.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.32 ₹30.28
343.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.18 ₹17.31
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$5.14 ₹488
-34.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$10.72 ₹1,018
-26.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.83 ₹174
-11.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$2.77 ₹263
-14.08%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.18 ₹207
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.27 ₹25.93
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$8.55 ₹812
81.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$0.82 ₹78.3
39.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.30 ₹28.94
163.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$1.59 ₹151
627.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.11 ₹106
35.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$12.9K ₹1.2M
91.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$23.1K ₹2.2M
-3.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$53.0 ₹5,032
66.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$3.14 ₹298
316.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$4.14 ₹393
371.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$16.09 ₹1,528
298.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$6.12 ₹581
213.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$3.17 ₹301
120.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$44.03 ₹4,181
747.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$1,985 ₹188.5K
438.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$5.38 ₹511
1808.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$25.65 ₹2,436
57.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$36.40 ₹3,456
219.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$29.40 ₹2,792
314.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$163 ₹15.5K
315.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$126 ₹11.9K
261.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$277 ₹26.3K
361.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$156 ₹14.8K
469.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$864 ₹82.1K
178.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$555 ₹52.7K
155.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Malda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
9.08
38.99%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Malda: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Malda
$126 72.3% $328
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Malda
$110 52.6% $122
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Malda
$60 68.7% $131
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Malda
$44 74.6% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Malda
$60 50.1% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Malda
$22 71.3% $56
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Malda
$12 45.7% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $163 in Malda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $14.00 in Malda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $110 per month, with Malda cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇮🇳 Malda
🕒 Local time
22:39 10:39 PM
00:09 12:09 AM
1 h 30 min ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
324,237
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Malda 4,370 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Malda

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and clothing. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Tbilisi and $651 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: $677 in Tbilisi versus $163 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 111% 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 $14.00 versus $38.00 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 $434 in Malda versus $1,270 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 193% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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