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: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,119 in Medias.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,699 in Medias.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,280 in Medias.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Medias 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$12.44 RON 54.3
-10.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$50.9 RON 222
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$7.96 RON 34.71
3.27%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$3.57 RON 15.55
-12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$1.98 RON 8.62
-62.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$2.09 RON 9.11
-78.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$3.19 RON 13.90
-33.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$3.47 RON 15.11
-13.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.35 RON 5.87
40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.30 RON 5.65
-43.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.83 RON 7.96
1.09%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$3.35 RON 14.60
-26.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$8.54 RON 37.23
-8.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$7.07 RON 30.81
-11.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$11.89 RON 51.8
-17.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.19 RON 5.20
1.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.65 RON 7.21
-3.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.55 RON 6.78
15.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$2.39 RON 10.42
-2.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.00 RON 4.35
-29.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.04 RON 4.52
-35.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.89 RON 3.86
32.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.82 RON 3.60
-13.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$5.76 RON 25.13
-49.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$7.07 RON 30.82
2.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.11 RON 4.82
39.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.70 RON 7.42
35.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$0.67 RON 2.93
-43.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$19.64 RON 85.6
-24.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$0.76 RON 3.30
94.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.81 RON 3.51
-14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$7.05 RON 30.74
5.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.49 RON 6.49
-22.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$28.5K RON 124.4K
-36.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$27.5K RON 119.9K
-27.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$166 RON 726
-55.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$7.98 RON 34.78
45.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$8.95 RON 39.03
98.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$41.75 RON 182
45.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$19.21 RON 83.7
-14.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$7.04 RON 30.69
-7.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$440 RON 1,921
-40.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$6,542 RON 28.5K
-21.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$67.6 RON 295
14.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$42.69 RON 186
3.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$96.4 RON 420
22.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$99.4 RON 433
14.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$383 RON 1,670
81.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$292 RON 1,275
58.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$585 RON 2,550
128.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$446 RON 1,943
74.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$1,733 RON 7,554
46.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$1,318 RON 5,746
8.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Medias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
-
-
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medias: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $383 in Medias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $51.0 in Medias for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $219 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 $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,678 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $383 in Medias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $440 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 Medias?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Medias?
At $1,119 in Medias versus $1,185 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.

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