Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Manakara

For one person, living is cheaper in Manakara: $397 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Manakara, Madagascar
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Manakara
🇲🇬 Madagascar
$397
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Manakara

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 Manakara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,269 per month in Tbilisi vs $397 in Manakara, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,269
  • Manakara $397

A couple spends around $2,016 per month in Tbilisi vs $610 in Manakara, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,016
  • Manakara $610

A family of three spends $2,763 per month in Tbilisi vs $822 in Manakara, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,763
  • Manakara $822

Tbilisi costs about 219% more than Manakara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tbilisi and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63 ₾30.07
$2.23 MGA 10.2K
421.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.83 ₾97.8
$14.74 MGA 67.5K
156.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 ₾24.98
$3.58 MGA 16.4K
169.83%
Cappuccino
$3.57 ₾9.24
$1.14 MGA 5,205
213.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.78
$0.61 MGA 2,771
77.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.45
$0.53 MGA 2,424
5.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.62 ₾6.78
$1.18 MGA 5,424
122.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.85
$1.47 MGA 6,721
106.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.60
$1.78 MGA 8,161
21.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.06
$1.02 MGA 4,685
-21.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$0.67 MGA 3,057
159.70%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.31
$2.28 MGA 10.4K
24.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.31 ₾24.07
$6.56 MGA 30.0K
41.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 ₾16.85
$3.40 MGA 15.6K
91.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.95 ₾33.50
$3.60 MGA 16.5K
259.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 ₾4.34
$0.95 MGA 4,365
76.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$0.72 MGA 3,304
156.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.10
$0.37 MGA 1,696
432.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 ₾6.25
$0.71 MGA 3,265
240.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 ₾2.11
$0.58 MGA 2,679
41.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.70 MGA 3,203
5.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 ₾3.47
$0.35 MGA 1,584
282.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.00
$0.63 MGA 2,903
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 ₾9.24
$1.36 MGA 6,248
162.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.83
$4.34 MGA 19.9K
76.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.39
$1.06 MGA 4,858
60.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₾6.21
$1.25 MGA 5,707
92.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.05
$0.21 MGA 961
90.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.23 ₾39.38
$34.72 MGA 159.0K
-56.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$1.12 MGA 5,152
1.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.02
$2.26 MGA 10.4K
-65.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.83 ₾30.58
$3.32 MGA 15.2K
256.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₾3.75
$1.12 MGA 5,111
29.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.6K
$15.2K MGA 69.6M
61.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ₾57.8K
$20.7K MGA 94.7M
8.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₾230
$42.29 MGA 193.7K
109.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 ₾33.93
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.67 ₾50.9
$53.6 MGA 245.6K
-63.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 ₾166
$11.63 MGA 53.3K
450.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 ₾49.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.12 ₾18.42
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$375 ₾971
$22.17 MGA 101.5K
1593.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ₾27.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾268
$16.20 MGA 74.2K
539.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.26 ₾102
$20.07 MGA 91.9K
95.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾303
$44.60 MGA 204.3K
163.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾315
$43.80 MGA 200.6K
177.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$695 ₾1,798
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,167
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 ₾3,504
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$906 ₾2,343
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,295 ₾5,934
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,345 ₾3,478
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Manakara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 ₾1,718
$115 MGA 527.9K
476.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
24
-47.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Last update for Manakara: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
Manakara
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Manakara
$130 44.4% $104
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Manakara
$56 70.8% $135
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Manakara
$56 67.4% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Manakara
$96 * 21.1% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Manakara
$12 * 85.1% $67
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Manakara
$48 119% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Tbilisi are about 5.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi versus $15 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $130 – making Manakara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇲🇬 Manakara
🕒 Local time
09:25 9:25 AM
08:25 8:25 AM
1 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
44,237
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MGA, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.88 GEL (1 GEL = 0.347 EUR).

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 4,580 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD). 1 EUR = 5,099 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Manakara 7,110 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Manakara

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 Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manakara cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 219%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Tbilisi and $596 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $375 per month in Tbilisi and $22 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Manakara?
Groceries cost about 80% more in Tbilisi, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Manakara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $397, than in Tbilisi at $1,269. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Tbilisi or in Manakara?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $397 in Manakara to $1,269 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Manakara. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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