😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $662 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,032 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,403 in Pontianak.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 84% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Pontianak51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$1.48Rp 26.6K
633.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$12.25Rp 219.5K
260.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$3.32Rp 59.4K
149.40%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$1.70Rp 30.5K
77.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.51Rp 9,199
49.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.28Rp 5,070
64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$3.01Rp 53.9K
-25.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.48Rp 44.4K
20.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.17Rp 20.9K
64.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.13Rp 20.3K
-36.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$0.88Rp 15.7K
109.09%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.54Rp 27.6K
59.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$8.05Rp 144.3K
-7.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$3.21Rp 57.6K
101.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$8.00Rp 143.4K
21.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$2.38Rp 42.7K
-49.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.45Rp 25.9K
7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.81Rp 32.5K
-1.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.54Rp 27.6K
44.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-50.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-65.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.97Rp 17.4K
22.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.41Rp 7,381
70.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$1.87Rp 33.5K
57.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$21.18Rp 379.5K
-65.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$2.08Rp 37.3K
-26.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$3.23Rp 57.8K
-30.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.32Rp 5,765
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$9.97Rp 178.5K
46.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$0.56Rp 10.1K
167.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.38Rp 6,719
92.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$2.88Rp 51.7K
158.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$0.86Rp 15.3K
32.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$25.0KRp 447.0M
-25.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$27.1KRp 485.9M
-25.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$69.6Rp 1.2M
6.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$4.36Rp 78.1K
168.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$23.01Rp 412.3K
-21.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$22.69Rp 406.5K
171.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$6.05Rp 108.4K
175.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$3.00Rp 53.7K
120.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$92.9Rp 1.7M
184.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$7,731Rp 138.5M
-33.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$41.79Rp 748.7K
79.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$30.69Rp 549.8K
43.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$66.7Rp 1.2M
76.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$73.7Rp 1.3M
54.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$259Rp 4.6M
167.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$159Rp 2.8M
185.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$595Rp 10.7M
122.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$334Rp 6.0M
136.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$1,207Rp 21.6M
101.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$734Rp 13.1M
96.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$335Rp 6.0M
92.34%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $259 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 92% 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: $44.00 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 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Pontianak?
Tbilisi pays 92% 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: $692 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 vs Pontianak?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $662 in Pontianak – a 84% 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 46% 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 $662 in Pontianak versus $1,218 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 84% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.