Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Matale Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Matale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $231 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $382 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $532 in Matale, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 422% more than Matale, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Matale are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Matale 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$1.37 LKR 455

688.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$9.87 LKR 3,274

337.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$5.11 LKR 1,694

62.23%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.55 LKR 184

49.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.28 LKR 93.5

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$1.96 LKR 649

48.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$1.31 LKR 435

47.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.52 LKR 172

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$0.66 LKR 219

184.85%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$2.45 LKR 812

3.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$10.60 LKR 3,515

-30.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$4.11 LKR 1,362

50.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$8.02 LKR 2,658

16.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$0.44 LKR 145

277.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$0.46 LKR 152

45.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.74 LKR 577

-11.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$0.28 LKR 93.7

142.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.25 LKR 415

-8.80%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

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

$73.7 ₾196

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

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

$266 ₾708

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$26.55 LKR 8,802

192.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$11.92 LKR 3,952

847.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$61.4 LKR 20.4K

652.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$83.5 LKR 27.7K

827.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$159 LKR 52.7K

323.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Matale: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 323% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $10.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $119 – making Matale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 422% more than Matale, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $347 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $231 in Matale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Matale, where all-in costs run around $231, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Matale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Matale costs $231 versus $1,209 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Matale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.