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: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,469 in Mlava.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $2,065 in Mlava.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $2,661 in Mlava.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 18% less than in Mlava, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Mlava is 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.69
$10.91 zł 39.77
-1.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$26.82 zł 97.8
61.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.02
$8.90 zł 32.45
-6.85%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$2.65 zł 9.64
13.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.97 zł 7.20
-58.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.73 zł 6.32
-73.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.65 zł 9.68
-15.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.74
$3.96 zł 14.44
-26.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.03 zł 3.74
87.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.34 zł 4.89
-49.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$1.81 zł 6.61
3.87%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$3.49 zł 12.74
-27.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.69
$9.49 zł 34.61
-21.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$6.50 zł 23.72
-4.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$13.27 zł 48.38
-29.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.06 zł 3.86
15.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.86 zł 6.78
-10.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.95 zł 7.13
-7.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.95
$2.76 zł 10.06
-18.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.99 zł 3.60
-28.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.14 zł 4.17
-41.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.40 zł 5.12
-15.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.69 zł 2.51
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$5.04 zł 18.39
-40.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.20
$6.78 zł 24.71
12.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.12 zł 4.09
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$1.51 zł 5.51
49.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$1.12 zł 4.07
-67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.35
$33.03 zł 120
-56.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$2.23 zł 8.13
-33.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.82 zł 3.00
-17.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$13.41 zł 48.89
-46.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.68 zł 6.14
-32.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$31.9K zł 116.5K
-42.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$31.6K zł 115.4K
-36.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$310 zł 1,129
-76.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.90
$6.76 zł 24.67
72.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.38
$8.18 zł 29.84
118.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$36.23 zł 132
65.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.62
$19.32 zł 70.5
-13.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$5.36 zł 19.53
23.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾707
$379 zł 1,383
-29.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$7,776 zł 28.4K
-33.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$83.7 zł 305
-7.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$43.05 zł 157
3.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$86.0 zł 314
35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$82.2 zł 300
37.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$646 zł 2,357
7.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$504 zł 1,839
-8.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,504
$987 zł 3,599
33.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$803 zł 2,926
-3.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,454
$3,090 zł 11.3K
-21.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,839
$2,304 zł 8,402
-37.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,786
$1,097 zł 3,999
-38.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.01
69.61%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mlava: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $646 in Mlava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mlava pays 63% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $27.00 in Mlava. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $225, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Mlava?
On paper, Mlava earns 63% less. 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $646 in Mlava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $379 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 Mlava?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Mlava. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Mlava?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,469 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 22% less than in Mlava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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