😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $413 in Negombo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $674 in Negombo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $936 in Negombo.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 185% more expensive than Negombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Negombo69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₾29.35
$3.93LKR 1,310
182.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$18.33LKR 6,103
135.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.63
$8.27LKR 2,754
3.39%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$1.43LKR 476
107.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$0.74LKR 245
2.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.37LKR 124
24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.88
$2.06LKR 687
7.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.73
$3.32LKR 1,105
-12.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$1.53LKR 509
28.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$0.49LKR 163
48.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$0.83LKR 276
119.28%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$2.21LKR 736
12.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.27
$14.03LKR 4,672
-45.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.59
$4.81LKR 1,600
30.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.14
$5.75LKR 1,915
65.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$2.04LKR 680
-39.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.33
$0.71LKR 238
130.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$2.49LKR 829
-24.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.02
$1.26LKR 421
80.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$0.82LKR 275
-18.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.92LKR 305
-27.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$1.03LKR 342
18.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$0.61LKR 202
14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.73
$8.86LKR 2,950
-67.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.42
$12.96LKR 4,316
-40.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$2.06LKR 686
-24.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$2.95LKR 982
-24.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.34LKR 113
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.81
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$0.41LKR 137
251.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.33LKR 111
109.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.52
$0.60LKR 201
1128.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.24LKR 413
-8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.1K
$26.7KLKR 8.9M
-31.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
$35.0KLKR 11.7M
-41.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$31.15LKR 10.4K
136.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.80
$4.22LKR 1,404
175.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.65
$14.95LKR 4,977
17.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$13.60LKR 4,530
351.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.59
$10.20LKR 3,398
65.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.71
$2.45LKR 815
173.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾699
$36.24LKR 12.1K
628.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
$445LKR 148.3K
1060.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
$19.42LKR 6,468
286.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
$19.69LKR 6,555
119.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
$49.36LKR 16.4K
138.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
$27.22LKR 9,066
309.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,868
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,221
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,488
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,066
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,517
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,727
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Negombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,779
$183LKR 61.1K
266.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026
Last update for Negombo: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Tbilisi pays 267% 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 $18.00 in Negombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $204 per month, with Negombo 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 Negombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Negombo?
Negombo wins on cost – living expenses run 185% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Negombo?
Tbilisi pays 267% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Negombo?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $36.24 in Negombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Negombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Negombo – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Negombo?
At $413 in Negombo versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Negombo but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Negombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Negombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Negombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $413 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Negombo hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Negombo?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Negombo 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Negombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 185% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.