Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ragama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $526 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $851 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $1,177 in Ragama.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 128% more expensive than Ragama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Ragama 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 ₾29.20
$3.92 LKR 1,240
177.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33 ₾117
$25.21 LKR 7,978
71.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.25 ₾22.19
$8.54 LKR 2,703
-3.40%
Cappuccino
$3.10 ₾8.33
$2.73 LKR 865
13.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.15
$0.74 LKR 233
8.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.24
$0.40 LKR 127
15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.81
$2.32 LKR 734
-6.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 ₾7.92
$3.26 LKR 1,032
-9.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.19
$1.58 LKR 501
22.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.53 LKR 168
26.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.91
$0.75 LKR 238
142.67%
Eggs
$2.56 ₾6.88
$2.19 LKR 694
16.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 ₾20.48
$14.03 LKR 4,441
-45.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 ₾17.50
$4.64 LKR 1,468
40.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 ₾26.00
$7.93 LKR 2,509
21.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.12
$7.69 LKR 2,433
-84.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.36
$1.07 LKR 340
51.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾5.04
$5.69 LKR 1,801
-67.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.26
$1.26 LKR 399
84.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.75
$1.11 LKR 351
-41.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₾1.70
$1.18 LKR 375
-46.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.17
$1.16 LKR 367
1.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.90
$0.61 LKR 192
14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 ₾8.17
$10.10 LKR 3,198
-69.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₾19.56
$12.87 LKR 4,073
-43.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.27
$2.00 LKR 632
-20.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₾6.18
$2.96 LKR 936
-22.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.96
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.68 ₾39.48
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾4.03
$0.39 LKR 123
284.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₾1.87
$0.35 LKR 111
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 ₾19.78
$0.56 LKR 178
1212.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₾3.05
$1.26 LKR 400
-10.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾49.0K
$27.3K LKR 8.6M
-33.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ₾54.5K
$34.7K LKR 11.0M
-41.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.0 ₾199
$59.0 LKR 18.7K
25.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87 ₾31.93
$4.43 LKR 1,404
167.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55 ₾47.20
$15.40 LKR 4,875
13.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾162
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69 ₾44.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾18.10
$3.45 LKR 1,091
95.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₾703
$37.37 LKR 11.8K
599.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,146 ₾13.8K
$440 LKR 139.4K
1068.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6 ₾209
$27.22 LKR 8,616
185.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾117
$19.32 LKR 6,116
125.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾318
$70.2 LKR 22.2K
68.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾298
$39.05 LKR 12.4K
183.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,891
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₾1,231
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 ₾3,621
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₾2,120
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,560 ₾6,885
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,443 ₾3,881
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 ₾1,742
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Last update for Ragama: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $0 in Ragama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43 in Tbilisi vs $25 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $255, 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 Ragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Ragama?
Tbilisi and Ragama differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($1,199 vs $526 including rent). Ragama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Ragama?
You'd need roughly $1,799 in Tbilisi and $789 in Ragama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Ragama?
Childcare runs $261 in Tbilisi versus $37.37 in Ragama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ragama – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $526 in Ragama versus $1,199 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ragama but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ragama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Ragama?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Ragama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ragama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Ragama?
Expats usually find Ragama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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