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: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,443 in Mlava.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $2,079 in Mlava.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $2,715 in Mlava.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 17% less than in Mlava, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Mlava is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$10.87zł 41.23
-0.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$26.92zł 102
62.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$8.50zł 32.26
-2.24%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.66zł 10.08
11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.98zł 7.50
-61.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$1.80zł 6.84
-74.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.77zł 10.49
-22.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$4.06zł 15.39
-29.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.02zł 3.86
86.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.31zł 4.96
-45.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.81zł 6.85
5.52%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$3.48zł 13.19
-28.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$9.28zł 35.21
-16.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$6.51zł 24.70
-5.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$13.24zł 50.2
-27.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.04zł 3.96
12.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.82zł 6.91
-9.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$2.03zł 7.70
-8.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.76zł 10.48
-15.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.98zł 3.73
-27.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.14zł 4.33
-41.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.40zł 5.30
-15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.64zł 2.44
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$5.00zł 18.95
-41.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$6.74zł 25.59
14.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.16zł 4.41
37.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.51zł 5.72
52.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$1.10zł 4.18
-65.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$32.32zł 123
-54.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$2.23zł 8.46
-32.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.83zł 3.14
-18.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$13.65zł 51.8
-46.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.70zł 6.44
-35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$33.2Kzł 125.8K
-43.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$31.1Kzł 117.9K
-34.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$316zł 1,198
-76.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$6.73zł 25.53
77.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$8.19zł 31.09
119.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$36.09zł 137
68.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$19.75zł 75.0
-16.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$5.37zł 20.36
24.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$378zł 1,434
-28.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$7,618zł 28.9K
-32.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$84.1zł 319
-9.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$42.91zł 163
1.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$86.7zł 329
38.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$82.3zł 312
34.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$654zł 2,480
5.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$497zł 1,887
-5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$972zł 3,689
39.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$824zł 3,126
-4.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$2,954zł 11.2K
-16.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$2,300zł 8,727
-36.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mlava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$1,032zł 3,915
-36.12%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mlava: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $654 in Mlava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mlava pays 57% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $27.00 in Mlava. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $223, 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Mlava?
On paper, salaries run 57% 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: $687 in Tbilisi versus $654 in Mlava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $378 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Mlava. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Mlava?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,443 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 21% less than in Mlava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.