Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Plovdiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Plovdiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,102 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,712 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,321 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 10% more than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Plovdiv 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$8.70 BGN 14.47
24.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$47.28 BGN 78.7
-8.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$8.69 BGN 14.46
-4.60%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$2.49 BGN 4.15
20.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.49 BGN 2.48
-44.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.91 BGN 1.51
-49.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.99 BGN 4.97
-25.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$2.93 BGN 4.88
-0.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.81 BGN 3.02
6.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.07 BGN 1.78
-36.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$2.11 BGN 3.51
-10.90%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$3.40 BGN 5.66
-25.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$11.61 BGN 19.31
-36.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$7.95 BGN 13.22
-22.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$12.02 BGN 19.99
-22.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.50 BGN 2.49
-18.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.76 BGN 2.93
-5.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.66 BGN 2.76
8.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$2.48 BGN 4.12
-9.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$1.02 BGN 1.70
-30.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.14 BGN 1.90
-41.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.09 BGN 1.82
8.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.77 BGN 1.28
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$3.61 BGN 6.01
-17.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$6.07 BGN 10.11
25.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.04 BGN 1.73
48.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$1.80 BGN 2.99
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.60 BGN 1.00
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$28.44 BGN 47.32
-49.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$1.16 BGN 1.93
28.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.66 BGN 1.09
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$10.48 BGN 17.44
-31.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.50 BGN 2.50
-24.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$31.9K BGN 53.1K
-42.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$28.7K BGN 47.8K
-30.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$97.8 BGN 163
-24.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$18.10 BGN 30.11
-35.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$15.31 BGN 25.47
16.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$37.70 BGN 62.7
59.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$14.69 BGN 24.44
14.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$8.96 BGN 14.90
-26.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$425 BGN 706
-37.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$7,126 BGN 11.9K
-27.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$61.5 BGN 102
26.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$35.35 BGN 58.8
26.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$98.1 BGN 163
19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$106 BGN 176
6.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$482 BGN 802
43.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$336 BGN 558
37.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$816 BGN 1,357
61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$609 BGN 1,013
27.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
$2,299 BGN 3,824
5.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
$1,556 BGN 2,589
-7.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Plovdiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
$1,160 BGN 1,929
-41.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.49
164.81%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $482 in Plovdiv. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 72% higher in Plovdiv, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $238 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Plovdiv compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $1,102 in Plovdiv – roughly 10% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Plovdiv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,654 in Plovdiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Plovdiv?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Plovdiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Plovdiv?
Public transport costs about 97% less in Plovdiv. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Plovdiv?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $425 in Plovdiv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Plovdiv, where all-in costs run around $1,102, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Plovdiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Plovdiv?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,102 in Plovdiv to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Plovdiv safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Plovdiv?
If budget matters most, go with Plovdiv. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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