😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $485 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $602 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $719 in Pontianak.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 157% more expensive than in Pontianak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Pontianak65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$1.69Rp 29.9K
570.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$8.41Rp 148.9K
360.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$3.05Rp 54.0K
212.13%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$1.20Rp 21.3K
184.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.47Rp 8,295
121.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.22Rp 3,882
190.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.87Rp 50.9K
-9.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$3.73Rp 66.1K
-13.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.11Rp 19.6K
95.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$1.43Rp 25.4K
-48.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$0.93Rp 16.4K
83.87%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$1.51Rp 26.8K
87.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$3.33Rp 58.9K
103.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$3.07Rp 54.4K
-46.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.93Rp 34.2K
-8.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$2.31Rp 41.0K
-19.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.50Rp 8,773
48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$2.85Rp 50.4K
19.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$22.54Rp 399.1K
-66.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.78Rp 31.4K
-4.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$2.17Rp 38.4K
9.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.29Rp 5,163
24.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$0.75Rp 13.2K
77.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$71.7Rp 1.3M
23.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$5.52Rp 97.8K
141.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$22.67Rp 401.4K
-11.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$24.36Rp 431.4K
181.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
$12.07Rp 213.7K
49.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$3.72Rp 65.8K
80.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$33.65Rp 595.8K
200.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$34.35Rp 608.3K
14.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$172Rp 3.1M
295.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$112Rp 2.0M
307.17%
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
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$270Rp 4.8M
141.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
10
26.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $172 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 141% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $8.00 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $152 per month, with Pontianak 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 Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pontianak cheaper than Tbilisi?
Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Pontianak?
Average pay runs 141% 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 Pontianak?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $172 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Pontianak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Pontianak?
Dining out is cheaper in Pontianak – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Pontianak?
At $485 in Pontianak versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Pontianak more family-friendly?
For families, Pontianak 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 Pontianak?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Pontianak 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 Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.