😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,151 in Middelburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,771 in Middelburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $2,392 in Middelburg.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 12% more expensive than in Middelburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Middelburg16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.58
$11.10R 178
5.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.9
$37.06R 593
2.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.43
$5.95R 95.1
63.70%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.91
$1.41R 22.51
141.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.77
$0.89R 14.31
19.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.69R 11.05
-5.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.06
$1.23R 19.61
119.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.09
$1.59R 25.37
94.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.74
$1.25R 19.96
76.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.13R 18.02
-28.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$1.60R 25.64
2.50%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.19
$1.78R 28.48
54.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.52
$6.28R 100
43.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.10
$5.28R 84.5
24.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.94
$6.95R 111
81.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$1.71R 27.39
-2.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$1.16R 18.58
56.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.04
$1.16R 18.57
66.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$1.28R 20.50
102.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$1.73R 27.60
-49.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.30R 20.72
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$1.24R 19.78
12.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$1.05R 16.83
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$2.51R 40.11
33.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.68
$5.02R 80.3
50.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$1.83R 29.29
-12.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$2.15R 34.31
4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$1.45R 23.26
-74.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.45
$43.45R 695
-65.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.06
$0.63R 10.15
85.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.84R 13.45
-4.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.58
$9.33R 149
21.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.45R 23.17
-8.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$36.4KR 582.7K
-31.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$32.5KR 519.1K
-31.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾233
$158R 2,525
-43.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.58
$35.33R 565
-62.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$39.37R 630
-50.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾179
$32.53R 520
110.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.77
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.32
$7.69R 123
-13.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾949
$254R 4,060
43.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$5,637R 90.1K
89.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$54.2R 866
91.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$34.36R 549
13.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$103R 1,643
13.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$93.3R 1,493
31.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,782
$397R 6,357
71.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,166
$382R 6,115
16.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,353
$754R 12.1K
70.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,401
$751R 12.0K
22.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,492
$896R 14.3K
177.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,715
$643R 10.3K
121.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,686
$1,219R 19.5K
-47.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
11
15.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Middelburg: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $397 in Middelburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Middelburg pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $37.00 in Middelburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $179 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 12% 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 89% 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $397 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 188% 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 $363 in Tbilisi versus $254 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 $1,151 in Middelburg versus $1,286 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 $1,151 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 12% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.