😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,100 in Midrand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,033 in Tbilisi versus $1,661 in Midrand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,787 in Tbilisi versus $2,222 in Midrand.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 16% more expensive than in Midrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi7% lower, Midrand20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68₾30.42
$5.98R 96.4
95.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.79₾98.4
$30.45R 491
24.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34₾24.31
$3.03R 48.88
208.25%
Cappuccino
$3.45₾9.00
$1.80R 28.96
91.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09₾2.84
$1.18R 19.00
-7.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₾1.55
$0.94R 15.08
-37.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82₾7.35
$2.17R 34.99
29.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73₾9.71
$2.53R 40.68
47.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19₾5.71
$1.29R 20.81
69.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.19R 19.09
-37.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65₾4.29
$1.38R 22.17
19.57%
Eggs
$2.76₾7.20
$2.58R 41.58
6.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64₾25.09
$9.21R 148
4.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.89₾17.94
$5.70R 91.7
20.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.15₾34.23
$9.32R 150
41.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71₾4.46
$2.16R 34.74
-20.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72₾4.49
$1.12R 18.10
53.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.87
$1.82R 29.33
2.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49₾6.49
$1.52R 24.45
63.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81₾2.11
$1.74R 28.03
-53.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.73R 27.79
-61.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.26R 20.37
9.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75₾1.94
$1.32R 21.26
-43.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.75
$3.32R 53.4
1.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81₾20.34
$5.45R 87.8
43.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67₾4.34
$0.90R 14.52
85.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₾6.10
$1.25R 20.15
87.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$1.52R 24.44
-75.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.56₾40.52
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.97
$0.89R 14.36
28.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78₾2.03
$0.60R 9.74
30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.51₾29.97
$15.00R 242
-23.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.49R 24.02
-10.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K₾64.7K
$34.5KR 556.1K
-28.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K₾57.8K
$30.6KR 492.1K
-27.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.3₾235
$111R 1,789
-18.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.19₾34.35
$24.55R 395
-46.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73₾51.4
$38.91R 627
-49.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.3₾173
$32.38R 521
104.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.64₾51.1
$4.97R 80.0
295.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73₾17.53
$7.93R 128
-15.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$356₾928
$184R 2,959
93.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K₾27.6K
$5,707R 91.9K
85.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$58.4R 940
73.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62₾103
$45.03R 725
-12.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$84.8R 1,366
35.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120₾314
$87.7R 1,412
37.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703₾1,830
$490R 7,896
43.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451₾1,173
$461R 7,431
-2.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,276₾3,321
$861R 13.9K
48.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$891₾2,320
$772R 12.4K
15.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,587
$890R 14.3K
184.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,466₾3,818
$636R 10.2K
130.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Midrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$651₾1,696
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
10.91
16.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 16, 2026
Last update for Midrand: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $490 in Midrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $30.00 in Midrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $205 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, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,918 in Tbilisi and $1,650 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: $703 in Tbilisi versus $490 in Midrand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Midrand?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Midrand?
All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,100 in Midrand – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Midrand?
At $1,100 in Midrand versus $1,279 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 16% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.