Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Melissia Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Melissia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,483 in Melissia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $2,284 in Melissia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $3,085 in Melissia.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 16% less than in Melissia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Melissia is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$11.34 €9.82
-0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$62.7 €54.3
-38.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$9.01 €7.81
5.66%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$4.15 €3.60
-17.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$2.40 €2.08
-56.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.56 €0.49
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.80
$4.58 €3.97
-43.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$5.30 €4.59
-38.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.95 €1.69
11.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$1.52 €1.31
-51.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$2.90 €2.51
-41.03%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$5.13 €4.44
-44.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.96
$11.58 €10.03
-20.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.56
$10.34 €8.96
-34.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.18
$19.35 €16.77
-34.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$2.24 €1.94
-26.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$2.01 €1.75
-11.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$1.46 €1.27
28.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.35
$2.03 €1.76
20.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$1.17 €1.02
-25.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.20 €1.04
-45.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$0.88 €0.76
59.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.88 €0.76
-15.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$5.76 €4.99
-40.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.76
$10.44 €9.05
-27.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$2.17 €1.88
-21.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$2.79 €2.41
-14.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$1.40 €1.22
-74.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.61
$45.43 €39.37
-66.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$4.67 €4.05
-74.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$1.06 €0.91
-28.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
$14.70 €12.74
-22.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$2.20 €1.91
-39.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.3K
$29.0K €25.2K
-14.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$24.2K €21.0K
-9.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$221 €192
-59.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.64
$25.25 €21.88
-47.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$30.52 €26.45
-34.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$56.8 €49.19
20.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.02
$29.21 €25.31
-38.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$9.36 €8.11
-28.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$503 €436
-25.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$4,608 €3,994
132.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$92.7 €80.3
9.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$37.21 €32.24
5.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$105 €90.8
12.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$133 €115
-7.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$538 €466
26.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$409 €355
11.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,386
$748 €648
74.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,338
$622 €539
44.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,366
$2,707 €2,346
-9.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,775
$2,334 €2,022
-37.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Melissia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$1,377 €1,193
-52.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
4.37
188.79%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Melissia: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $538 in Melissia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melissia pays 111% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $63.0 in Melissia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $308 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 Melissia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Melissia?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Melissia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Melissia?
On paper, salaries run 111% lower in Melissia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Melissia?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $538 in Melissia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Melissia?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,483 in Melissia – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Melissia?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 198% less than in Melissia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Melissia?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,483 in Melissia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Melissia. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Melissia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,247 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Melissia?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Melissia 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Melissia. 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