😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $662 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,014 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,367 in Pontianak.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 80% more expensive than in Pontianak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Pontianak50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$1.50Rp 27.0K
627.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$12.25Rp 221.2K
252.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$3.26Rp 58.8K
161.66%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$1.71Rp 30.8K
74.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$0.55Rp 9,891
47.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.26Rp 4,653
61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$3.11Rp 56.1K
-30.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$2.50Rp 45.2K
15.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.18Rp 21.2K
64.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.18Rp 21.3K
-42.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$0.95Rp 17.1K
94.74%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$1.52Rp 27.4K
66.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$8.23Rp 148.6K
-8.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$3.25Rp 58.7K
92.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$8.05Rp 145.4K
19.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$2.31Rp 41.6K
-49.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.43Rp 25.8K
14.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.81Rp 32.7K
3.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.49Rp 26.9K
49.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.39Rp 25.1K
-49.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.97Rp 35.6K
-67.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$0.95Rp 17.2K
24.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.45Rp 8,054
55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$1.82Rp 32.9K
63.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$20.24Rp 365.4K
-63.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$2.05Rp 37.1K
-24.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$3.13Rp 56.4K
-27.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.32Rp 5,856
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$10.00Rp 180.6K
47.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$0.54Rp 9,713
162.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.37Rp 6,712
86.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$2.85Rp 51.5K
155.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$0.78Rp 14.1K
39.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$24.6KRp 445.0M
-25.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$28.2KRp 508.9M
-27.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$69.9Rp 1.3M
6.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$4.27Rp 77.1K
174.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$22.46Rp 405.6K
-21.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$23.15Rp 417.9K
160.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$6.12Rp 110.5K
166.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$3.12Rp 56.3K
108.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$91.6Rp 1.7M
193.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$7,664Rp 138.4M
-32.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$41.87Rp 755.9K
84.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$31.00Rp 559.6K
40.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$67.2Rp 1.2M
76.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$74.9Rp 1.4M
50.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$259Rp 4.7M
174.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$157Rp 2.8M
195.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$585Rp 10.6M
124.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$339Rp 6.1M
126.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$1,049Rp 18.9M
137.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$644Rp 11.6M
123.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$336Rp 6.1M
97.40%
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 25, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $259 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 97% 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 $204 vs $208, 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 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Pontianak?
Average pay runs 97% 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: $709 in Tbilisi versus $259 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Pontianak?
All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $662 in Pontianak – a 80% 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 47% 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 living in Tbilisi or in Pontianak?
At $662 in Pontianak versus $1,191 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 80% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.