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