Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Merida Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Merida

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $809 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,428 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,047 in Merida, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 54% more than Merida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Merida 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$11.90 VES 10.0K

-4.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$60.4 VES 51.0K

-35.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$10.86 VES 9,169

-12.34%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.56 VES 2,165

33.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$2.11 VES 1,782

-50.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$1.31 VES 1,108

-51.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.96 VES 1,658

33.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.04 VES 2,571

6.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.98 VES 1,673

9.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$3.27 VES 2,758

-77.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.94 VES 1,638

-11.86%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.47 VES 2,085

14.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$6.56 VES 5,539

40.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$7.64 VES 6,452

-11.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$7.32 VES 6,178

74.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$5.07 VES 4,285

-67.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.47 VES 1,237

20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$2.90 VES 2,452

-35.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$2.26 VES 1,909

7.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.99 VES 1,683

-56.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.35 VES 1,141

-51.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$1.50 VES 1,269

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$2.58 VES 2,179

-71.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$3.81 VES 3,220

-10.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$11.06 VES 9,339

-31.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.39 VES 1,171

22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$2.11 VES 1,781

12.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.29 VES 245

24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$4.11 VES 3,472

-71.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$1.54 VES 1,297

-50.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$5.82 VES 4,916

94.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$0.76 VES 640

75.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$44.4K VES 37.5M

-44.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$50.3K VES 42.5M

-56.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

$12.69 VES 10.7K

600.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.63

$10.46 VES 8,831

27.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$30.08 VES 25.4K

-33.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$29.82 VES 25.2K

130.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$15.02 VES 12.7K

20.44%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$4.98 VES 4,207

34.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾971

$89.2 VES 75.3K

318.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$2,377 VES 2.0M

350.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$72.1 VES 60.8K

40.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$41.21 VES 34.8K

-4.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$98.5 VES 83.1K

19.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$98.2 VES 82.9K

24.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$132 VES 111.8K

415.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$91.6 VES 77.4K

398.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$224 VES 189.6K

480.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$188 VES 158.5K

379.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$1,186 VES 1.0M

106.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$1,215 VES 1.0M

19.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$285 VES 240.6K

128.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

-49.52%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Merida: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $132 in Merida. 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 129% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $60.0 in Merida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $286 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Merida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 54% more than Merida, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,214 in Merida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Merida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $809 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $89.2 in Merida. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Merida, where all-in costs run around $809, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Merida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Merida costs $809 versus $1,247 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Merida. 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.