😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,012 in Middelburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,584 in Middelburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $2,157 in Middelburg.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 18% more expensive than in Middelburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Middelburg24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$8.46R 140
27.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$33.20R 548
32.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$4.96R 81.9
67.54%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.20R 19.77
147.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.74R 12.27
4.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.61R 10.12
-24.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$1.15R 19.03
86.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$1.43R 23.54
100.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.15R 18.90
65.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.95R 15.69
-25.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.42R 23.47
34.51%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.61R 26.51
54.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$5.60R 92.4
38.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$4.62R 76.3
33.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$6.31R 104
51.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.47R 24.33
-20.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.02R 16.76
61.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.03R 17.07
79.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.15R 18.93
102.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.59R 26.20
-55.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.10R 18.16
-39.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.13R 18.64
5.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.96R 15.86
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.16R 35.67
35.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$4.95R 81.7
55.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.70R 28.11
-6.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.90R 31.43
21.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$1.34R 22.15
-71.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$39.29R 648
-62.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.10R 18.18
36.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.88R 14.44
-22.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$3.97R 65.5
82.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.28R 21.19
-14.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$21.2KR 350.2K
-12.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$23.5KR 387.1K
-12.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$118R 1,947
-38.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$35.42R 585
-66.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$41.75R 689
-56.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$30.98R 511
96.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$6.84R 113
-2.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$198R 3,263
35.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$4,307R 71.1K
19.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$50.0R 825
53.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$32.35R 534
34.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$89.3R 1,474
34.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$81.2R 1,341
36.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$369R 6,087
86.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$331R 5,458
42.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$677R 11.2K
100.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$679R 11.2K
16.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$833R 13.7K
196.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$700R 11.6K
107.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$1,185R 19.6K
-44.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
11.51
3.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Middelburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $369 in Middelburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Middelburg pays 80% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $33.00 in Middelburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $160 per month, with Middelburg 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 Middelburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Middelburg?
Middelburg wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Middelburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Middelburg?
On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Middelburg. 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 Middelburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $369 in Middelburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Middelburg?
A monthly transit pass in Middelburg runs roughly 166% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Middelburg?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $198 in Middelburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Middelburg?
At $1,012 in Middelburg versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Middelburg but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Middelburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Middelburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Middelburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,012 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Middelburg hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Middelburg?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Middelburg 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 Middelburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.