Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Male Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Male

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,488 in Male.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $2,416 in Male.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $3,344 in Male.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 14% less than in Male, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, Male is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43 ₾29.72
$6.03 MVR 93.0
89.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16 ₾99.2
$39.37 MVR 607
-3.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 ₾24.45
$9.61 MVR 148
-2.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.96 MVR 76.4
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.98 MVR 76.7
-
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₾8.78
$3.52 MVR 54.3
-3.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.70
$1.59 MVR 24.58
-34.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₾1.56
$0.31 MVR 4.85
93.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 ₾7.05
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.90
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₾5.90
$2.04 MVR 31.46
11.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₾2.04
$1.70 MVR 26.18
-53.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.21
$1.20 MVR 18.50
35.00%
Eggs
$2.74 ₾7.13
$1.95 MVR 30.10
40.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₾24.19
$10.84 MVR 167
-14.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 ₾17.65
$5.93 MVR 91.5
14.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 ₾33.84
$9.35 MVR 144
39.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.27
$3.86 MVR 59.5
-57.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₾4.77
$3.11 MVR 48.02
-41.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ₾4.94
$4.17 MVR 64.4
-54.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ₾6.68
$2.66 MVR 41.05
-3.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.19
$2.10 MVR 32.32
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.91 MVR 29.39
-65.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₾3.54
$2.16 MVR 33.25
-37.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$0.57 MVR 8.85
40.35%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$12.30 MVR 190
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.69 MVR 41.43
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.02 MVR 31.11
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ₾8.85
$14.59 MVR 225
-76.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.94
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₾4.36
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.18
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.67 MVR 10.29
-41.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.55 ₾40.44
$30.14 MVR 465
-48.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.96
$1.98 MVR 30.59
-42.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$1.89 MVR 29.18
-60.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.32 ₾29.42
$10.17 MVR 157
11.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$1.03 MVR 15.84
33.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.9K
$32.4K MVR 499.6K
-24.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$29.4K MVR 454.0K
-25.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ₾231
$119 MVR 1,831
-25.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18 ₾34.26
$29.81 MVR 460
-55.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68 ₾51.2
$74.1 MVR 1,142
-73.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ₾177
$70.9 MVR 1,094
-3.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 ₾46.65
$34.22 MVR 528
-47.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₾16.70
$9.75 MVR 150
-34.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 ₾967
$181 MVR 2,797
105.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾28.1K
$3,038 MVR 46.8K
255.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₾272
$38.85 MVR 599
168.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83 ₾101
$48.67 MVR 751
-20.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$85.6 MVR 1,319
34.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$52.1 MVR 803
134.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 ₾1,770
$940 MVR 14.5K
-27.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,185
$707 MVR 10.9K
-35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 ₾3,410
$2,060 MVR 31.8K
-36.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₾2,321
$1,532 MVR 23.6K
-41.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 ₾6,216
$2,269 MVR 35.0K
5.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,425 ₾3,704
$1,389 MVR 21.4K
2.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Male
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 ₾1,663
$824 MVR 12.7K
-22.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
14
-9.86%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Male: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $940 in Male. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Male pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $39.00 in Male. Groceries flip the comparison at $236 vs $234, with Male 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 Male: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Male cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Male?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Male. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Male?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $940 in Male. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Male?
All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,488 in Male – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 94% less than in Male. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Male?
At $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,488 in Male, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Male. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Male more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Male, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Male?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Male 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Male. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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