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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $534 in Ragama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $867 in Ragama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,201 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 9% lower, Ragama 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.79
$4.06 LKR 1,369
167.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$25.46 LKR 8,582
73.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.98
$8.28 LKR 2,790
-
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.01
$2.76 LKR 929
9.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.73 LKR 247
4.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.38 LKR 128
21.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.94
$2.38 LKR 802
-5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.96
$3.44 LKR 1,161
-12.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.63 LKR 551
18.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$0.53 LKR 178
35.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.88
$0.75 LKR 254
145.33%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.49
$2.13 LKR 717
15.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.70
$14.01 LKR 4,720
-46.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.19
$4.60 LKR 1,550
40.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.74
$7.90 LKR 2,662
22.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.19
$7.43 LKR 2,504
-83.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.15
$1.10 LKR 372
41.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.76
$5.62 LKR 1,894
-68.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.91
$1.25 LKR 421
78.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$1.16 LKR 392
-43.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.80
$1.19 LKR 400
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$1.20 LKR 404
-0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.60 LKR 201
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.83
$10.10 LKR 3,403
-70.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.44
$12.58 LKR 4,240
-41.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.03
$2.02 LKR 682
-24.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.96
$2.94 LKR 992
-23.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.74
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.41 LKR 138
265.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.93
$0.32 LKR 109
128.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.77
$0.56 LKR 189
1230.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.21 LKR 407
-5.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$26.6K LKR 9.0M
-30.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.7K
$34.9K LKR 11.8M
-41.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$60.7 LKR 20.4K
21.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.06
$4.27 LKR 1,438
174.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.16
$15.07 LKR 5,079
20.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾164
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.53
$3.38 LKR 1,138
95.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾701
$36.60 LKR 12.3K
621.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$444 LKR 149.7K
1058.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾199
$27.18 LKR 9,159
175.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$19.47 LKR 6,561
125.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$69.4 LKR 23.4K
69.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾302
$38.05 LKR 12.8K
198.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,836
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,204
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,509
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,092
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,450
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,823
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ragama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,711
-
-
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ragama: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Ragama. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $253, 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 ($1,218 vs $534 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 $1,827 in Tbilisi and $800 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 $264 in Tbilisi versus $36.60 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 $44.00 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 $534 in Ragama versus $1,218 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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