😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,011 in Middelburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,551 in Middelburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $2,092 in Middelburg.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 20% more expensive than Middelburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Middelburg25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$8.31R 135
29.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$33.14R 539
30.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$4.99R 81.0
66.13%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$1.21R 19.69
147.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.74R 12.06
10.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.56R 9.13
-17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.14R 18.50
95.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$1.43R 23.18
104.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.11R 18.11
73.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.02R 16.63
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.42R 23.12
32.39%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$1.59R 25.79
59.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$5.62R 91.3
32.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$4.71R 76.6
31.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$6.31R 102
48.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.54R 25.05
-20.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.05R 17.07
58.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.08R 17.57
66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.21R 19.65
85.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.55R 25.14
-54.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.11R 18.08
-39.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.12R 18.23
5.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.94R 15.25
-29.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.18R 35.42
36.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$4.78R 77.7
59.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.72R 27.99
-10.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$1.94R 31.58
15.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.29R 21.01
-72.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$39.36R 640
-63.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$1.15R 18.72
29.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.95R 15.47
-28.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$4.13R 67.2
75.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.27R 20.69
-10.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$21.3KR 345.7K
-13.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$23.9KR 388.7K
-16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$117R 1,897
-36.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$35.45R 576
-67.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$42.13R 685
-57.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$31.11R 506
93.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$6.85R 111
-3.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$199R 3,235
33.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$4,434R 72.1K
17.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$51.2R 832
51.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$32.06R 521
39.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$87.8R 1,427
33.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$79.7R 1,294
41.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$366R 5,941
89.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$337R 5,470
37.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$679R 11.0K
94.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$696R 11.3K
11.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$890R 14.5K
173.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$698R 11.3K
107.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Middelburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$1,197R 19.4K
-43.78%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Middelburg: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $366 in Middelburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Middelburg pays 78% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $33.00 in Middelburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $162 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 20% 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 Middelburg?
On paper, Middelburg earns 78% less. 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 vs Middelburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $366 in Middelburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Middelburg?
A monthly transit pass in Middelburg runs roughly 173% 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 Middelburg?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $199 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 Middelburg?
At $1,011 in Middelburg versus $1,209 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 $1,011 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 20% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.