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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $228 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $371 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $514 in Matale, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 425% 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

$10.82 ₾28.38

$1.37 LKR 462

689.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$10.01 LKR 3,364

338.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$4.97 LKR 1,671

67.20%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$0.55 LKR 185

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.28 LKR 94.6

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$1.99 LKR 669

44.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.38 LKR 463

37.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$0.54 LKR 182

31.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$0.62 LKR 208

208.06%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.45 LKR 824

1.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$10.90 LKR 3,661

-28.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$4.13 LKR 1,387

49.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$7.89 LKR 2,652

21.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$0.47 LKR 159

251.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$0.48 LKR 162

39.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$1.81 LKR 608

-12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$0.28 LKR 95.2

142.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.24 LKR 416

-12.10%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

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

$73.0 ₾191

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

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

$269 ₾705

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$26.41 LKR 8,875

189.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$11.75 LKR 3,948

840.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

686.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$84.4 LKR 28.4K

834.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$158 LKR 53.2K

316.46%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Matale: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 316% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $10.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $121 – 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 425% 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $342 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $228 in Matale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 $228, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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 $228 versus $1,197 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.