Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Palembang Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Palembang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $657 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,031 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,404 in Palembang.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 84% more expensive than Palembang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Palembang 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

800.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

145.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

164.01%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

114.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

-15.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.28 Rp 5,004

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

-18.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

47.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

-41.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

33.33%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

111.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

-7.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

97.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

7.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

-48.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

15.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

-4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

50.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-48.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

-65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

21.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.50 Rp 8,973

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

22.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

-64.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

-23.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

-28.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.47 Rp 8,466

-23.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

48.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$0.52 Rp 9,363

186.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$0.37 Rp 6,685

83.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

144.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

52.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ₾49.1K

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

-23.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K ₾53.1K

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

-29.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.7 ₾196

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

5.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾30.92

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

175.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

-24.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

156.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

180.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

117.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$266 ₾708

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

188.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

-31.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

84.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

43.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

73.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

53.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$257 Rp 4.6M

169.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$157 Rp 2.8M

194.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$584 Rp 10.4M

126.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$331 Rp 5.9M

133.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

80.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

$783 Rp 14.0M

84.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$309 Rp 5.5M

117.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

9.15

29.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $257 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 118% 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 Palembang. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $214, 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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tbilisi pays 118% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $257 in Palembang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $657 in Palembang – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 48% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $657 in Palembang versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Palembang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Palembang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.