Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and PernikCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Pernik
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $883 in Pernik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,303 in Pernik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,723 in Pernik.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 37% more expensive than Pernik, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Pernik34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$8.66BGN 14.41
24.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$25.00BGN 41.59
72.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$9.03BGN 15.03
-8.19%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$1.63BGN 2.72
84.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.03BGN 1.71
-20.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.57BGN 0.95
-19.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.19BGN 1.99
87.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.09BGN 3.48
39.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.42BGN 2.36
35.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.70BGN 1.17
-2.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.51BGN 2.50
24.50%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$2.17BGN 3.61
17.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.85BGN 14.72
-16.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$7.18BGN 11.94
-13.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$8.64BGN 14.38
8.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.20BGN 1.99
1.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.71BGN 2.85
-2.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.45BGN 2.42
24.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.14BGN 3.55
4.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.85BGN 1.42
-16.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.80BGN 1.33
-16.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.57BGN 0.95
107.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.71BGN 1.18
-7.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$3.60BGN 5.99
-17.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$5.29BGN 8.81
43.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$0.74BGN 1.22
108.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.15BGN 3.58
4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.89BGN 1.49
-59.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$11.59BGN 19.29
24.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.32BGN 2.20
12.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.66BGN 1.09
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$12.01BGN 19.99
-39.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.54BGN 2.57
-25.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$24.7KBGN 41.1K
-25.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$17.8KBGN 29.7K
12.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$102BGN 169
-27.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$15.02BGN 24.99
-22.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$11.05BGN 18.39
61.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$35.41BGN 58.9
69.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$14.75BGN 24.54
13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$5.80BGN 9.65
13.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$237BGN 395
12.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$2,400BGN 3,992
116.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$38.62BGN 64.3
101.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$19.30BGN 32.10
131.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$75.3BGN 125
55.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$73.8BGN 123
52.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$301BGN 500
130.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$267BGN 444
73.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$475BGN 790
177.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$347BGN 577
123.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$1,228BGN 2,043
97.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$1,091BGN 1,814
32.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pernik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$1,636BGN 2,721
-58.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.4
249.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Pernik: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $301 in Pernik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pernik pays 143% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Pernik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $191 per month, with Pernik 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 Pernik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Pernik?
Pernik wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pernik the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Pernik?
On paper, Pernik earns 143% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Pernik?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $301 in Pernik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Pernik?
A monthly transit pass in Pernik runs roughly 25% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Pernik?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $237 in Pernik. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Pernik?
At $883 in Pernik versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pernik but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Pernik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Pernik?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pernik delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $883 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pernik hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Pernik?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Pernik 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 Pernik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.