😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $681 in Pekanbaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $970 in Pekanbaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,258 in Pekanbaru.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 76% more expensive than in Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Pekanbaru49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$1.56Rp 28.0K
593.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$8.68Rp 155.9K
405.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$2.49Rp 44.8K
233.73%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.42Rp 25.6K
109.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.47Rp 8,384
63.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.26Rp 4,674
76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.14Rp 38.5K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$3.43Rp 61.6K
-16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.34Rp 24.1K
41.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-40.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.02Rp 18.4K
87.25%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.78Rp 32.0K
39.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$16.88Rp 303.4K
-54.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$2.61Rp 47.0K
136.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$10.40Rp 186.9K
-7.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.96Rp 53.1K
-60.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.67Rp 30.1K
-1.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$2.01Rp 36.2K
-7.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$0.89Rp 15.9K
161.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.00Rp 17.9K
-29.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.61Rp 28.9K
-58.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.58Rp 28.4K
-24.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.41Rp 7,398
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.30Rp 41.3K
26.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$19.82Rp 356.2K
-61.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.74Rp 49.3K
-41.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.87Rp 69.6K
-40.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.30Rp 5,311
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$9.33Rp 167.7K
58.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.89Rp 15.9K
68.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.40Rp 7,219
70.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$2.18Rp 39.2K
233.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.77Rp 13.8K
41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$23.2KRp 416.3M
-19.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$25.5KRp 457.5M
-19.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$70.3Rp 1.3M
3.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$6.58Rp 118.2K
81.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$27.97Rp 502.6K
-35.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$23.15Rp 416.1K
163.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$12.41Rp 223.0K
33.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$3.21Rp 57.6K
108.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$174Rp 3.1M
54.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$3,096Rp 55.6M
66.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$34.18Rp 614.2K
123.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$36.35Rp 653.2K
19.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$65.7Rp 1.2M
83.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$75.9Rp 1.4M
45.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$257Rp 4.6M
167.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$122Rp 2.2M
286.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$930Rp 16.7M
45.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$151Rp 2.7M
423.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$1,135Rp 20.4M
117.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$699Rp 12.6M
108.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$181Rp 3.3M
264.26%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Pekanbaru: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $257 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 264% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Pekanbaru. 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 Pekanbaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pekanbaru cheaper than Tbilisi?
Pekanbaru is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Pekanbaru?
Average pay runs 264% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Pekanbaru?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $257 in Pekanbaru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Pekanbaru?
Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Pekanbaru?
All in, you'll spend $1,197 per month in Tbilisi versus $681 in Pekanbaru – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Pekanbaru?
At $681 in Pekanbaru versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pekanbaru but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Pekanbaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Pekanbaru more family-friendly?
For families, Pekanbaru 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.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Pekanbaru?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Pekanbaru 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.