Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mandalay Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mandalay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $244 in Mandalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $413 in Mandalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $583 in Mandalay.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 411% more expensive than in Mandalay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Mandalay 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$2.03 MMK 4,248

458.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$10.05 MMK 21.0K

285.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$1.28 MMK 2,671

166.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.88 MMK 1,849

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.99 MMK 2,065

-35.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$0.97 MMK 2,038

169.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.27 MMK 2,653

155.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.03 MMK 2,152

110.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.01 MMK 2,123

-26.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.54 MMK 1,136

216.67%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$0.93 MMK 1,944

204.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$10.04 MMK 21.0K

-8.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$5.92 MMK 12.4K

14.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$6.95 MMK 14.5K

83.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$4.16 MMK 8,708

-60.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.02 MMK 2,143

73.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.34 MMK 2,799

39.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$0.72 MMK 1,518

238.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.34 MMK 2,800

-35.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.18 MMK 2,476

-44.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.39 MMK 813

258.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.31 MMK 651

138.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$1.03 MMK 2,149

231.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$5.10 MMK 10.7K

49.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$0.61 MMK 1,268

178.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.41 MMK 859

85.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$4.12 MMK 8,618

175.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.63

$6.74 MMK 14.1K

97.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$18.25 MMK 38.2K

276.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾971

$237 MMK 496.9K

57.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$5,675 MMK 11.9M

88.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$201 MMK 420.3K

239.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$303 MMK 635.3K

329.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$203 MMK 425.8K

220.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mandalay: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $201 in Mandalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 221% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $10.00 in Mandalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $168 per month, with Mandalay 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 Mandalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mandalay wins on cost – living expenses run 411% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandalay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 221% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $201 in Mandalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $244 in Mandalay – a 411% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $244 in Mandalay versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mandalay but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Mandalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mandalay delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $244 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mandalay hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Mandalay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mandalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 411% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.