Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Medias Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Medias

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,128 in Medias.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,718 in Medias.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $2,307 in Medias.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 6% more expensive than in Medias, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Medias 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$12.38 RON 56.3
-11.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$50.3 RON 228
-14.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$8.13 RON 36.97
4.92%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$3.40 RON 15.46
-12.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$1.90 RON 8.66
-57.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$2.07 RON 9.40
-79.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$3.20 RON 14.54
-32.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$3.36 RON 15.27
-14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.35 RON 6.13
43.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.34 RON 6.10
-49.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$1.78 RON 8.11
3.93%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$3.35 RON 15.25
-24.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$8.43 RON 38.31
-10.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$6.82 RON 30.99
-8.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$11.98 RON 54.5
-19.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$1.19 RON 5.39
-2.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.65 RON 7.51
-0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$1.61 RON 7.30
16.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$2.43 RON 11.06
-8.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.00 RON 4.53
-30.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$1.03 RON 4.70
-37.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$0.87 RON 3.94
35.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.80 RON 3.63
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$5.97 RON 27.13
-50.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$7.76 RON 35.29
-4.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.14 RON 5.18
35.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.65 RON 7.50
38.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.72 RON 3.29
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$19.59 RON 89.1
-24.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$0.71 RON 3.22
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.81 RON 3.68
-14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$7.03 RON 31.97
3.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.52 RON 6.90
-28.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$28.2K RON 128.1K
-34.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$27.5K RON 125.0K
-25.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$162 RON 734
-53.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$8.03 RON 36.49
45.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$8.94 RON 40.63
96.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$41.32 RON 188
45.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$19.14 RON 87.0
-14.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$7.01 RON 31.88
-7.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$452 RON 2,055
-40.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$6,675 RON 30.3K
-22.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$68.0 RON 309
13.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$43.75 RON 199
-0.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$95.5 RON 434
23.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$100 RON 456
12.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$389 RON 1,771
82.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$286 RON 1,302
62.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$584 RON 2,654
125.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$444 RON 2,017
72.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$1,806 RON 8,210
38.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$1,280 RON 5,821
12.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.7
54.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medias: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $389 in Medias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $50.0 in Medias for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $220 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Medias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medias cheaper than Tbilisi?
Medias is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,787 in Tbilisi and $1,692 in Medias to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Medias?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $389 in Medias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $452 in Medias. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Medias?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Medias?
At $1,128 in Medias versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medias but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Medias the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Medias more family-friendly?
For families, Medias is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Medias?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Medias are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medias gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities