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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $585 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $915 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,245 in Matara, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 104% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Matara are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Matara 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.55
$2.44 LKR 819
347.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$25.31 LKR 8,487
70.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.30
$8.42 LKR 2,825
1.31%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$2.76 LKR 927
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$0.72 LKR 243
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$0.37 LKR 125
13.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$2.33 LKR 780
-7.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$3.44 LKR 1,153
-16.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.07
$1.70 LKR 572
14.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.52 LKR 176
30.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$0.81 LKR 273
128.40%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$2.20 LKR 737
15.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$14.25 LKR 4,777
-47.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$4.77 LKR 1,601
31.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$7.87 LKR 2,640
21.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$7.39 LKR 2,478
-84.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$0.55 LKR 185
198.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$5.90 LKR 1,979
-68.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$0.70 LKR 233
218.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.86 LKR 289
-18.60%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$0.53 LKR 176
20.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$1.15 LKR 384
2.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.60 LKR 202
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$9.97 LKR 3,342
-70.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$12.83 LKR 4,303
-42.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$2.08 LKR 698
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$2.99 LKR 1,002
-23.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.18 LKR 61.3
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.53
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$0.42 LKR 139
238.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$0.36 LKR 119
91.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.01
$0.56 LKR 188
1198.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.22 LKR 408
-10.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$26.6K LKR 8.9M
-31.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$34.5K LKR 11.6M
-40.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾194
$25.15 LKR 8,432
195.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.62
$4.23 LKR 1,418
176.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.05
$5.10 LKR 1,711
245.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.62
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.02
$3.31 LKR 1,108
96.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$37.49 LKR 12.6K
617.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$438 LKR 146.9K
1076.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$28.09 LKR 9,418
174.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$19.49 LKR 6,536
123.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$68.6 LKR 23.0K
72.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$38.16 LKR 12.8K
195.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$166 LKR 55.8K
326.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$117 LKR 39.3K
296.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,441
$498 LKR 167.0K
164.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,006
$166 LKR 55.8K
360.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,520
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,772
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,734
$102 LKR 34.3K
547.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Matara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $166 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 547% 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 $25.00 in Matara. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $249 in Matara – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Is Matara cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $878 in Matara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Matara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,191 in Tbilisi and $585 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $37.49 in Matara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Matara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Matara more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Matara?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities