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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $728 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,239 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,750 in Merida, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 64% more than Merida, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Merida 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$9.91 VES 7,285

9.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$44.60 VES 32.8K

-1.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$9.82 VES 7,217

-15.38%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$1.57 VES 1,155

89.17%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$1.15 VES 844

-33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.81 VES 597

-43.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$1.14 VES 837

87.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$1.48 VES 1,089

93.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$2.11 VES 1,549

-9.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$2.42 VES 1,777

-70.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$1.65 VES 1,215

15.76%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.10 VES 1,547

18.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$5.51 VES 4,054

40.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$6.44 VES 4,737

-4.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$7.35 VES 5,405

30.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$4.95 VES 3,642

-76.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$1.07 VES 785

54.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$1.72 VES 1,262

7.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$1.04 VES 765

124.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$0.91 VES 667

-21.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.19 VES 871

-43.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$1.27 VES 935

-6.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$1.81 VES 1,331

-63.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$4.10 VES 3,016

-28.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$10.94 VES 8,044

-29.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$1.17 VES 861

35.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$1.37 VES 1,007

68.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.27 VES 197

40.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$3.93 VES 2,888

-61.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$2.45 VES 1,800

-72.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$0.48 VES 353

127.08%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

$45.4K VES 33.4M

-59.02%

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$37.5K VES 27.6M

-45.41%

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

$73.0 ₾191

$13.23 VES 9,726

451.78%

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$10.11 VES 7,428

18.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$37.46 VES 27.5K

-51.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$25.06 VES 18.4K

143.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

$14.86 VES 10.9K

11.17%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$7.19 VES 5,285

-6.82%

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

$269 ₾705

$57.7 VES 42.4K

366.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$89.4 VES 65.7K

-14.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$39.33 VES 28.9K

10.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$85.8 VES 63.0K

40.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$63.9 VES 47.0K

73.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$115 VES 84.3K

499.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$89.0 VES 65.4K

428.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$209 VES 153.3K

549.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$191 VES 140.5K

312.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

$1,171 VES 861.1K

110.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

$1,223 VES 898.7K

19.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$290 VES 213.2K

127.28%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Merida: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $115 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 127% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $45.00 in Merida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 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 64% 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,092 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 $1,197 in Tbilisi and $728 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $57.7 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 $728, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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 $728 versus $1,197 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.