Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and MataraCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Matara
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,199 per month in Tbilisi vs $585 in Matara, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,833 per month in Tbilisi vs $932 in Matara, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,466 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,279 in Matara, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 105% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Matara are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi11% lower, Matara56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86₾29.20
$2.53LKR 801
329.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33₾117
$25.56LKR 8,090
69.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25₾22.19
$8.26LKR 2,615
-0.12%
Cappuccino
$3.10₾8.33
$2.74LKR 867
13.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.15
$0.68LKR 214
17.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.24
$0.37LKR 118
24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.81
$2.36LKR 747
-8.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94₾7.92
$3.28LKR 1,039
-10.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.19
$1.74LKR 552
10.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.55LKR 175
21.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.91
$0.87LKR 274
109.20%
Eggs
$2.56₾6.88
$2.15LKR 681
19.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61₾20.48
$13.88LKR 4,392
-45.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51₾17.50
$4.71LKR 1,491
38.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67₾26.00
$7.86LKR 2,489
23.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.12
$7.27LKR 2,302
-84.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62₾4.36
$0.52LKR 164
211.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾5.04
$5.65LKR 1,789
-66.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.26
$0.64LKR 203
264.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.75
$0.82LKR 258
-20.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63₾1.70
$0.53LKR 166
18.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.17
$1.19LKR 377
-0.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.90
$0.56LKR 178
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04₾8.17
$10.18LKR 3,223
-70.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27₾19.56
$12.68LKR 4,014
-42.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.27
$2.07LKR 656
-23.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₾6.18
$2.94LKR 931
-21.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.96
$0.17LKR 53.1
111.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.68₾39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾4.03
$0.42LKR 132
257.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₾1.87
$0.35LKR 111
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35₾19.78
$0.58LKR 183
1167.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₾3.05
$1.19LKR 378
-5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾49.0K
$26.9KLKR 8.5M
-32.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K₾54.5K
$34.5KLKR 10.9M
-41.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0₾199
$25.87LKR 8,189
185.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87₾31.93
$4.31LKR 1,365
175.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55₾47.20
$5.04LKR 1,595
248.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾162
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69₾44.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73₾18.10
$3.45LKR 1,090
95.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261₾703
$37.03LKR 11.7K
605.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,146₾13.8K
$436LKR 137.9K
1081.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6₾209
$27.27LKR 8,632
184.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾117
$19.24LKR 6,089
125.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾318
$68.5LKR 21.7K
72.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾298
$39.22LKR 12.4K
182.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703₾1,891
$169LKR 53.5K
316.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457₾1,231
$118LKR 37.4K
287.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346₾3,621
$499LKR 158.1K
169.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788₾2,120
$169LKR 53.4K
366.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,560₾6,885
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443₾3,881
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Matara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$648₾1,742
$95.2LKR 30.1K
580.36%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Matara: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Tbilisi versus $169 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 580% 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 in Tbilisi versus $26 in Matara. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Tbilisi vs $246 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 105%, 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 $1,799 per month in Tbilisi and $877 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 $1,199 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 $261 per month in Tbilisi and $37.03 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 $585, than in Tbilisi at $1,199. 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.