😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $750 in Panajachel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,251 in Panajachel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,752 in Panajachel.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 66% more expensive than in Panajachel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Panajachel45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$6.91Q 52.7
63.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$49.50Q 377
-21.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$8.01Q 61.1
18.85%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$3.46Q 26.34
-1.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.11Q 8.45
-6.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.83Q 6.31
-22.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$3.33Q 25.35
-21.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$4.84Q 36.89
-33.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$2.07Q 15.77
4.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$2.81Q 21.40
-73.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$2.05Q 15.63
-16.59%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.50Q 19.05
13.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$6.19Q 47.17
48.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$9.19Q 70.0
-26.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$13.42Q 102
-4.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$3.83Q 29.17
-57.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.71Q 13.05
3.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$2.88Q 21.98
-35.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$1.64Q 12.47
48.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$1.53Q 11.70
-43.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$2.10Q 16.00
-69.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$0.74Q 5.67
89.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.17Q 8.91
-36.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$4.04Q 30.75
-15.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$8.31Q 63.3
-8.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.73Q 13.17
-1.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$2.71Q 20.64
-12.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$5.10Q 38.90
-76.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$10.63Q 81.0
6.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.27Q 9.71
4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$27.9KQ 212.5K
-11.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$25.6KQ 195.3K
-14.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$77.1Q 588
15.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$29.13Q 222
-54.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$46.24Q 352
-56.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$6.35Q 48.38
5.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$343Q 2,616
8.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$6,662Q 50.8K
60.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$46.27Q 353
118.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$47.35Q 361
-16.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$111Q 843
6.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$115Q 876
6.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
11.62
8.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Panajachel: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $49.00 in Panajachel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $277 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Panajachel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Panajachel?
Panajachel wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panajachel the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Panajachel?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $1,125 in Panajachel to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Panajachel?
Childcare runs $374 in Tbilisi versus $343 in Panajachel. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Panajachel?
Dining out is cheaper in Panajachel – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $39.00 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 in Panajachel?
At $750 in Panajachel versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Panajachel but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Panajachel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Panajachel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Panajachel delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $750 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Panajachel hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Panajachel?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Panajachel 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 Panajachel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.