🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,477 in Novo Mesto.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $2,153 in Novo Mesto.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $2,829 in Novo Mesto.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 19% less than in Novo Mesto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Novo Mesto is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$11.77€10.20
-7.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$34.58€29.95
24.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$9.14€7.91
-6.67%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$1.87€1.62
59.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$2.37€2.05
-65.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$1.60€1.38
-73.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$3.27€2.83
-33.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$2.92€2.53
-1.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.37€1.18
41.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.66€1.44
-59.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$2.88€2.49
-35.76%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$3.47€3.01
-27.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$13.81€11.96
-45.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$8.61€7.45
-27.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$9.35€8.10
2.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$1.71€1.48
-32.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.76€1.52
-6.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$2.04€1.77
-7.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$3.50€3.03
-36.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.17€1.01
-40.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.56€1.35
-58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$1.26€1.09
-6.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.70€0.60
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$6.00€5.20
-50.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$6.78€5.87
9.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.41€1.22
9.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$1.89€1.64
20.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$1.76€1.52
-79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$32.31€27.98
-54.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$1.71€1.48
-16.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$1.22€1.06
-43.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$29.20€25.29
-75.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.67€1.45
-34.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$26.2K€22.7K
-30.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$28.2K€24.4K
-27.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$311€269
-76.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$11.37€9.85
2.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$33.50€29.01
-47.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$29.42€25.48
104.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$34.43€29.82
-52.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$8.28€7.17
-21.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$508€440
-47.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$8,840€7,656
-41.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$93.7€81.2
-17.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$34.52€29.89
25.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$121€105
-2.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$150€130
-24.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$530€459
33.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$427€369
8.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$872€755
50.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$760€658
0.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$2,873€2,488
-13.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$3,256€2,819
-55.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Novo Mesto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$1,439€1,246
-53.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.3
260.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Last update for Novo Mesto: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novo Mesto pays 117% 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 $35.00 in Novo Mesto. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $257, 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 Novo Mesto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Novo Mesto?
Tbilisi and Novo Mesto differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $1,477 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 117% lower in Novo Mesto. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Novo Mesto?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Novo Mesto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $35.00 in Novo Mesto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,477 in Novo Mesto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Novo Mesto. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Novo Mesto?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Novo Mesto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Novo Mesto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Novo Mesto?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Novo Mesto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.