😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,088 in Midrand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,616 in Midrand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,144 in Midrand.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 9% more expensive than Midrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Midrand19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$5.37R 90.0
107.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$28.04R 470
53.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$4.83R 81.1
70.19%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$1.42R 23.87
120.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.99R 16.52
-25.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.80R 13.49
-43.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.26R 37.83
-5.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.22R 37.29
34.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.03R 17.33
83.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.01R 16.93
-27.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.24R 20.81
49.19%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.47R 41.38
-0.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.41R 141
-6.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$4.87R 81.7
28.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$6.63R 111
47.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.62R 27.09
-25.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.04R 17.42
52.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.49R 24.94
20.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.43R 24.06
62.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.43R 24.05
-50.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.44R 24.18
-53.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.05R 17.55
12.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.89R 14.94
-20.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.14R 52.6
-7.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$5.43R 91.0
33.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$0.83R 13.86
86.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.10R 18.50
110.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.83R 13.87
-54.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$51.4R 861
-71.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.13R 19.01
30.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.52R 8.65
32.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$3.94R 66.0
89.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.27R 21.29
-9.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$22.3KR 374.5K
-19.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$23.7KR 396.9K
-16.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$99.3R 1,665
-26.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$22.32R 374
-47.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$42.39R 711
-58.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$56.8R 953
6.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$4.42R 74.2
271.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$7.31R 123
-10.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$168R 2,821
56.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$4,909R 82.3K
4.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$51.2R 859
51.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$33.67R 565
31.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$77.5R 1,300
51.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$79.3R 1,330
43.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$448R 7,512
54.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$426R 7,138
8.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$761R 12.8K
75.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$738R 12.4K
5.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$478R 8,018
429.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$390R 6,541
266.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Midrand: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $448 in Midrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $28.00 in Midrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $171 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 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,632 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $448 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 247% 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 $263 in Tbilisi versus $168 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 $1,088 in Midrand versus $1,185 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 9% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.