😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $666 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,038 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,409 in Pontianak.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 78% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Pontianak50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$1.49Rp 25.9K
648.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$12.48Rp 216.3K
245.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$3.16Rp 54.8K
160.13%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$1.73Rp 29.9K
80.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.55Rp 9,476
34.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.26Rp 4,460
73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$3.11Rp 53.9K
-31.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.40Rp 41.6K
24.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.23Rp 21.2K
53.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.14Rp 19.7K
-35.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.92Rp 16.0K
101.09%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.58Rp 27.4K
55.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.05Rp 139.5K
-2.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$3.24Rp 56.1K
92.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$7.94Rp 137.6K
23.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.36Rp 41.0K
-48.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.51Rp 26.2K
5.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.86Rp 32.2K
-3.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.50Rp 26.1K
54.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.36Rp 23.6K
-47.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.88Rp 32.6K
-64.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.90Rp 15.6K
31.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.42Rp 7,272
69.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$1.83Rp 31.7K
59.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$22.33Rp 387.1K
-67.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.11Rp 36.6K
-26.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.09Rp 53.5K
-25.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.30Rp 5,168
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$9.68Rp 167.7K
53.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.53Rp 9,206
179.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.34Rp 5,944
102.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$2.95Rp 51.1K
152.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$0.84Rp 14.6K
36.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$24.5KRp 424.0M
-26.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$27.1KRp 470.1M
-26.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$69.5Rp 1.2M
5.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$4.26Rp 73.8K
173.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$22.38Rp 387.8K
-20.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$22.87Rp 396.4K
164.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$6.18Rp 107.1K
166.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$3.01Rp 52.3K
116.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$92.0Rp 1.6M
185.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$7,626Rp 132.2M
-32.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$40.97Rp 710.2K
89.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$30.91Rp 535.7K
43.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$66.1Rp 1.1M
78.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$75.0Rp 1.3M
52.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$255Rp 4.4M
171.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$155Rp 2.7M
199.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$596Rp 10.3M
124.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$331Rp 5.7M
135.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$1,116Rp 19.3M
126.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$828Rp 14.3M
72.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$355Rp 6.1M
78.37%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $255 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 78% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $12.00 in Pontianak. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $212, 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 Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pontianak cheaper than Tbilisi?
Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Pontianak?
Tbilisi pays 78% more on average, 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $255 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Pontianak?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $666 in Pontianak – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 53% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Pontianak?
At $666 in Pontianak versus $1,185 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 78% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.