😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $652 in Panajachel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,082 in Panajachel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,511 in Panajachel.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 84% more expensive than in Panajachel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Panajachel51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$4.65Q 35.45
132.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$32.47Q 248
35.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$6.48Q 49.42
28.24%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.67Q 20.33
11.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.18Q 8.96
-34.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.94Q 7.16
-51.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.65Q 20.22
-19.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$4.63Q 35.26
-38.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$2.01Q 15.32
-5.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.55Q 11.83
-54.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$2.09Q 15.91
-8.61%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.80Q 13.75
37.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$7.84Q 59.8
-1.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$8.27Q 63.0
-25.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$9.95Q 75.9
-3.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$3.58Q 27.29
-67.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.54Q 11.71
7.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$3.17Q 24.20
-41.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.12Q 8.55
108.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.07Q 8.15
-33.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$2.35Q 17.88
-71.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.67Q 5.08
77.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.23Q 9.40
-46.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$3.58Q 27.30
-18.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$8.36Q 63.7
-8.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.68Q 12.82
-5.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.49Q 19.01
-7.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$5.07Q 38.63
-70.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.60Q 4.55
13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$15.76Q 120
-53.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.12Q 8.52
-2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$19.7KQ 150.4K
-5.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$24.6KQ 187.2K
-16.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$33.56Q 256
117.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$26.47Q 202
-54.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$47.90Q 365
-62.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$7.31Q 55.7
-8.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$245Q 1,865
9.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$5,776Q 44.0K
-10.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$50.1Q 382
52.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$52.9Q 403
-17.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$118Q 901
1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$124Q 945
-10.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Panajachel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
8.9
33.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Panajachel: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $32.00 in Panajachel. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $247, 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 Panajachel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Panajachel?
Panajachel wins on cost – living expenses run 84% 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 $1,796 in Tbilisi and $978 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $245 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 $32.00 versus $44.00 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 $652 in Panajachel versus $1,197 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 $652 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 84% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.