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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $723 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,220 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,717 in Merida, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 67% more than Merida, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Merida 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$10.17 VES 5,669

6.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$45.85 VES 25.5K

-5.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$10.13 VES 5,646

-18.16%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$1.56 VES 868

92.31%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$1.14 VES 633

-28.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.83 VES 461

-44.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.17 VES 653

90.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$1.49 VES 830

95.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$2.13 VES 1,188

-9.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$2.52 VES 1,405

-73.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$1.60 VES 891

17.50%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$2.03 VES 1,132

25.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$5.59 VES 3,113

32.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$6.29 VES 3,506

-1.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$7.28 VES 4,058

28.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$4.94 VES 2,753

-75.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.07 VES 595

55.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$1.66 VES 922

8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$1.04 VES 579

115.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$0.98 VES 546

-27.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.18 VES 659

-43.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$1.24 VES 693

-4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$1.81 VES 1,008

-63.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$4.11 VES 2,288

-27.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$10.96 VES 6,107

-30.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.18 VES 656

30.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

$1.38 VES 771

63.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.29 VES 162

24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$4.05 VES 2,259

-63.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$2.47 VES 1,379

-72.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$0.51 VES 285

123.53%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

$44.3K VES 24.7M

-58.29%

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

$37.2K VES 20.8M

-46.39%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$13.38 VES 7,454

450.67%

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

$9.94 VES 5,537

17.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$36.89 VES 20.6K

-51.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$25.15 VES 14.0K

139.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

$15.07 VES 8,399

11.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$6.96 VES 3,876

-5.17%

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

$266 ₾708

$58.1 VES 32.4K

358.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$90.5 VES 50.4K

-14.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$39.48 VES 22.0K

13.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$85.0 VES 47.3K

37.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$65.0 VES 36.2K

73.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$118 VES 65.9K

485.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$89.2 VES 49.7K

417.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$208 VES 115.9K

534.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$192 VES 106.9K

303.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

$1,155 VES 643.5K

110.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

$1,189 VES 662.7K

21.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$286 VES 159.2K

135.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Merida: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $118 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 135% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $46.00 in Merida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $237 – 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 67% more than Merida, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,084 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi and $723 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $58.1 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 $723, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $723 versus $1,209 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.