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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $583 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $928 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,272 in Matara, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 109% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Matara are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Matara 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$2.47 LKR 825
339.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$24.67 LKR 8,231
79.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$8.45 LKR 2,817
-2.01%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.77 LKR 923
9.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.69 LKR 232
10.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.38 LKR 125
21.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$2.38 LKR 794
-5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$3.31 LKR 1,104
-9.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.73 LKR 577
11.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$0.55 LKR 185
30.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$0.86 LKR 287
113.95%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$2.13 LKR 711
15.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$14.00 LKR 4,670
-46.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$4.55 LKR 1,517
42.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$7.88 LKR 2,628
23.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$7.65 LKR 2,553
-84.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$0.53 LKR 176
194.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$5.88 LKR 1,962
-69.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$0.65 LKR 217
243.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.83 LKR 276
-21.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$0.49 LKR 162
38.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$1.15 LKR 384
3.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.57 LKR 190
22.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$10.01 LKR 3,340
-70.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$12.85 LKR 4,286
-42.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$2.10 LKR 702
-27.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$2.87 LKR 959
-21.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.16 LKR 54.7
125.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.39 LKR 130
284.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.33 LKR 109
121.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$0.57 LKR 191
1207.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.21 LKR 402
-5.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$26.8K LKR 8.9M
-30.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$35.0K LKR 11.7M
-42.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$25.92 LKR 8,645
185.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$4.26 LKR 1,423
174.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$5.11 LKR 1,706
255.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$3.43 LKR 1,144
92.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$37.26 LKR 12.4K
609.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$445 LKR 148.3K
1057.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$27.74 LKR 9,252
169.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$19.47 LKR 6,494
125.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$70.2 LKR 23.4K
67.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$38.21 LKR 12.7K
197.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$167 LKR 55.7K
314.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$119 LKR 39.5K
283.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$494 LKR 164.7K
168.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$169 LKR 56.5K
365.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$106 LKR 35.2K
510.76%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Matara: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $167 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 511% 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 $25.00 in Matara. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $248 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 109%, 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 $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $875 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 vs Matara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $583 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 $264 per month in Tbilisi and $37.26 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 Tbilisi or Matara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. 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.

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