Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mlava Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mlava

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,458 in Mlava.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $2,103 in Mlava.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $2,748 in Mlava.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 12% less than in Mlava, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 6% below, Mlava is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.55
$10.83 zł 40.23
8.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.8
$27.30 zł 101
38.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.41
$8.06 zł 29.94
20.84%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.90
$2.70 zł 10.02
26.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.76
$1.99 zł 7.38
-46.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$1.71 zł 6.34
-61.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.05
$2.74 zł 10.18
-1.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.08
$3.87 zł 14.39
-19.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.73
$1.07 zł 3.97
105.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$1.77 zł 6.58
-54.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$0.95 zł 3.53
72.63%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.18
$4.00 zł 14.85
-31.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.50
$9.55 zł 35.48
-5.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.09
$7.25 zł 26.93
-9.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.91
$12.23 zł 45.43
3.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.36
$1.42 zł 5.26
17.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.73
$1.83 zł 6.81
-1.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.03
$1.63 zł 6.04
18.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.76
$3.22 zł 11.97
-19.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.99 zł 3.68
-12.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$1.38 zł 5.11
-52.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.63
$1.17 zł 4.35
18.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.69 zł 2.57
15.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.78
$5.02 zł 18.63
-33.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.66
$6.56 zł 24.38
14.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.21
$1.11 zł 4.13
45.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.86
$1.42 zł 5.26
58.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.17 zł 4.34
-68.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.41
$33.50 zł 124
-54.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.05
$2.32 zł 8.63
-49.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$0.88 zł 3.25
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.55
$10.42 zł 38.71
8.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$1.60 zł 5.93
-16.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.2K
$31.8K zł 118.1K
-21.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.4K
$29.0K zł 107.7K
-22.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾232
$264 zł 981
-66.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.55
$6.75 zł 25.07
96.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.8
$8.04 zł 29.86
142.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾178
$40.21 zł 149
70.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.73
$23.60 zł 87.7
-20.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.30
$5.35 zł 19.89
23.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾948
$337 zł 1,252
7.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$5,444 zł 20.2K
95.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾270
$85.7 zł 318
20.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$38.45 zł 143
1.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾304
$93.1 zł 346
25.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$81.6 zł 303
50.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,780
$623 zł 2,315
9.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,165
$515 zł 1,912
-13.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,349
$1,043 zł 3,875
23.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,399
$881 zł 3,272
4.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,486
$3,093 zł 11.5K
-19.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,711
$2,322 zł 8,623
-38.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,684
$1,080 zł 4,010
-40.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
6.89
84.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mlava: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $623 in Mlava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mlava pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $27.00 in Mlava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $231 per month, with Mlava 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 Mlava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mlava cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Mlava?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Mlava. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Mlava?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $623 in Mlava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $337 in Mlava. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Mlava?
Shoppers in Mlava pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Mlava?
At $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,458 in Mlava, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Mlava. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Mlava more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mlava, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Mlava?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Mlava 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Mlava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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