😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,099 in Midrand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,630 in Midrand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $2,162 in Midrand.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 11% more expensive than Midrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Midrand18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$5.36R 86.7
102.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$28.50R 461
54.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$4.98R 80.5
66.27%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$1.44R 23.29
109.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.04R 16.77
-26.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.82R 13.26
-43.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.20R 35.53
1.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.27R 36.77
32.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.03R 16.73
87.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.05R 16.99
-31.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.22R 19.80
50.82%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$2.53R 40.85
-3.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$8.20R 133
-9.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$4.71R 76.2
37.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$6.54R 106
48.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$1.68R 27.23
-28.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$0.98R 15.88
59.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.48R 23.99
20.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.43R 23.04
55.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.51R 24.45
-56.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.40R 22.60
-51.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$1.09R 17.62
9.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.96R 15.55
-27.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$3.11R 50.2
-5.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$5.56R 90.0
31.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$0.88R 14.22
72.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$1.14R 18.35
97.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.83R 13.35
-56.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$52.0R 840
-71.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.15R 18.63
30.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.51R 8.31
43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$4.07R 65.8
83.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.28R 20.76
-10.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$22.6KR 366.1K
-18.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$23.5KR 380.5K
-13.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$99.6R 1,610
-25.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$22.45R 363
-47.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$43.37R 701
-58.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$55.3R 893
11.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$4.44R 71.8
275.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$7.27R 117
-9.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$169R 2,738
55.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$4,998R 80.8K
2.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$50.9R 822
47.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$33.89R 548
29.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$78.1R 1,262
50.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$78.8R 1,275
44.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$451R 7,298
53.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$412R 6,657
10.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$780R 12.6K
69.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$718R 11.6K
9.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$882R 14.3K
175.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$714R 11.5K
101.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
-
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Midrand: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $451 in Midrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $29.00 in Midrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $172 per month, with Midrand 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 Midrand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midrand cheaper than Tbilisi?
Midrand is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $1,648 in Midrand to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Midrand?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $451 in Midrand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Midrand runs roughly 256% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $169 in Midrand. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Midrand?
At $1,099 in Midrand versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Midrand but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Midrand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Midrand more family-friendly?
For families, Midrand is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Midrand?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Midrand 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Midrand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.