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: $1,209 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
$10.91zł 39.77
-1.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$26.82zł 97.8
61.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.02
$8.90zł 32.45
-6.85%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.65zł 9.64
13.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.97zł 7.20
-58.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.73zł 6.32
-73.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.65zł 9.68
-15.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.74
$3.96zł 14.44
-26.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.03zł 3.74
87.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.34zł 4.89
-49.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.81zł 6.61
3.87%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$3.49zł 12.74
-27.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.69
$9.49zł 34.61
-21.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$6.50zł 23.72
-4.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$13.27zł 48.38
-29.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.06zł 3.86
15.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.86zł 6.78
-10.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.95zł 7.13
-7.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.95
$2.76zł 10.06
-18.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.99zł 3.60
-28.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.14zł 4.17
-41.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.40zł 5.12
-15.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.69zł 2.51
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$5.04zł 18.39
-40.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.20
$6.78zł 24.71
12.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.12zł 4.09
37.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$1.51zł 5.51
49.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.12zł 4.07
-67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.35
$33.03zł 120
-56.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$2.23zł 8.13
-33.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.82zł 3.00
-17.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$13.41zł 48.89
-46.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.68zł 6.14
-32.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$31.9Kzł 116.5K
-42.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$31.6Kzł 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
$310zł 1,129
-76.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.90
$6.76zł 24.67
72.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.38
$8.18zł 29.84
118.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$36.23zł 132
65.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.62
$19.32zł 70.5
-13.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$5.36zł 19.53
23.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾707
$379zł 1,383
-29.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$7,776zł 28.4K
-33.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$83.7zł 305
-7.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$43.05zł 157
3.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$86.0zł 314
35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$82.2zł 300
37.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$646zł 2,357
7.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$504zł 1,839
-8.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,504
$987zł 3,599
33.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$803zł 2,926
-3.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,454
$3,090zł 11.3K
-21.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,839
$2,304zł 8,402
-37.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,786
$1,097zł 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.