😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $577 in Mataram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $888 in Mataram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,200 in Mataram.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 105% more expensive than Mataram, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Mataram57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$1.05Rp 18.3K
961.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$11.02Rp 190.9K
291.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$2.25Rp 39.0K
265.33%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$1.87Rp 32.4K
67.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.55Rp 9,529
34.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.36Rp 6,243
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.63Rp 45.6K
-19.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.78Rp 65.6K
-20.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.56Rp 27.0K
21.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.68Rp 29.1K
-56.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.83Rp 14.4K
122.89%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.36Rp 23.6K
80.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$3.32Rp 57.5K
136.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$3.53Rp 61.2K
77.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$6.29Rp 109.1K
55.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.70Rp 29.5K
-28.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.21Rp 21.0K
31.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.86Rp 32.3K
-3.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$0.79Rp 13.7K
193.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.79Rp 13.7K
-10.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.89Rp 32.8K
-64.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.47Rp 8,180
151.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.31Rp 5,443
129.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$1.79Rp 31.1K
63.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$16.27Rp 282.1K
-55.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.46Rp 42.6K
-36.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.80Rp 65.9K
-39.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.63Rp 10.9K
-39.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$18.37Rp 318.5K
-19.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.48Rp 8,285
208.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.29Rp 5,024
137.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$3.16Rp 54.7K
135.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$0.65Rp 11.2K
76.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$23.4KRp 405.9M
-23.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$28.0KRp 485.3M
-29.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$50.2Rp 870.0K
46.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$4.39Rp 76.2K
165.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$19.07Rp 330.6K
-6.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$26.67Rp 462.3K
127.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$7.66Rp 132.7K
114.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$2.10Rp 36.3K
210.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$90.8Rp 1.6M
189.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$4,319Rp 74.9M
18.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$36.80Rp 637.8K
111.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$24.84Rp 430.6K
78.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$61.1Rp 1.1M
92.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$40.16Rp 696.1K
184.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$76.9Rp 1.3M
801.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$128Rp 2.2M
260.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$156Rp 2.7M
754.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$265Rp 4.6M
194.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$1,199Rp 20.8M
111.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$783Rp 13.6M
82.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$202Rp 3.5M
212.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9
32.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mataram: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $76.9 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 212% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $179 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.
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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Mataram?
Tbilisi and Mataram differ by about 105% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $577 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Mataram?
Tbilisi pays 212% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $76.9 in Mataram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $577 in Mataram versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Mataram?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Mataram safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Mataram are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Mataram?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.