Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Matara Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Matara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $578 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $863 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,149 in Matara, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 116% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Matara are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Matara 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$4.44 LKR 1,469

155.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$26.26 LKR 8,682

47.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$7.81 LKR 2,581

21.90%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.43 LKR 804

40.33%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.73 LKR 243

42.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.27 LKR 89.7

137.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.25 LKR 743

16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.09 LKR 1,020

4.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.58 LKR 521

37.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.56 LKR 186

32.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.80 LKR 266

113.75%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.53 LKR 505

84.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.94

$13.37 LKR 4,422

-31.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.94 LKR 1,633

36.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.16

$7.15 LKR 2,364

78.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$6.97 LKR 2,304

-76.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$0.45 LKR 147

293.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$4.35 LKR 1,438

-57.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$0.86 LKR 286

183.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.92 LKR 304

-5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.63 LKR 209

3.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.63

$0.90 LKR 299

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.45 LKR 149

64.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$9.56 LKR 3,161

-64.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$13.71 LKR 4,533

-44.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.84 LKR 609

-7.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.19

$2.76 LKR 913

-13.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.31 LKR 104

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.39 LKR 128

202.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.34 LKR 114

123.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$0.89 LKR 294

1174.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.35 LKR 446

-1.48%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$37.9K LKR 12.5M

-34.81%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$41.1K LKR 13.6M

-46.44%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$46.06 LKR 15.2K

92.92%

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

$13.33 ₾34.62

$4.20 LKR 1,387

217.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$21.14 LKR 6,990

-4.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾46.99

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$4.44 LKR 1,469

51.35%

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

$374 ₾970

$38.31 LKR 12.7K

875.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$1,206 LKR 398.7K

787.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$19.93 LKR 6,590

407.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$16.94 LKR 5,601

132.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$79.6 LKR 26.3K

47.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$43.08 LKR 14.2K

183.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,772

$184 LKR 60.9K

270.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$90.7 LKR 30.0K

403.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,336

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,363

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,694

$106 LKR 35.1K

513.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

12.69

-0.55%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Matara: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $184 in Matara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 514% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $26.00 in Matara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $231 – making Matara 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 Matara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 116%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $867 in Matara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $578 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $38.31 in Matara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Matara. 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.