🙂A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,385 in Rethymno, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,096 in Rethymno, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,807 in Rethymno, rent included.
🙂Tbilisi is about 8% cheaper than Rethymno, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Tbilisi sits 7% below the global median, while Rethymno is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$15.03€12.96
-23.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$58.2€50.2
-34.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$10.63€9.16
-11.57%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$3.69€3.18
-8.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$1.71€1.47
-39.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.55€0.48
9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$4.78€4.12
-43.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$5.36€4.62
-43.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.86€1.61
22.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$1.49€1.28
-46.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$2.25€1.94
-28.00%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$4.59€3.96
-40.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$15.24€13.14
-38.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$10.12€8.73
-32.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$15.55€13.41
-16.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$2.08€1.80
-21.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$2.18€1.88
-16.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.26€1.09
50.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.83€1.58
40.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$1.03€0.89
-18.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.98€0.84
-33.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.68€0.58
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.73€0.63
9.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$4.54€3.91
-25.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$6.28€5.41
22.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.84€1.59
-8.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$1.90€1.64
25.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$1.81€1.56
-78.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$4.62€3.98
-75.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.17€1.01
-36.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$11.55€9.96
-1.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$2.27€1.96
-39.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$23.0K€19.8K
6.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$25.7K€22.1K
-14.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$163€141
-45.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$18.81€16.21
-29.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$32.18€27.74
-38.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$64.9€56.0
5.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$8.46€7.29
-24.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$382€329
-2.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$4,244€3,658
154.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$86.9€74.9
20.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$11.58€9.98
235.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$45.86€39.53
150.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$46.41€40.00
163.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$575€496
18.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$454€392
0.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$916€789
43.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$725€625
23.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$4,304€3,710
-44.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$3,106€2,678
-54.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Rethymno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$1,245€1,073
-48.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
4.3
193.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Rethymno: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $575 in Rethymno. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 95% higher in Rethymno, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $58.0 in Rethymno. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $284 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Rethymno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rethymno cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Rethymno is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $2,078 in Rethymno. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Rethymno?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $1,385 in Rethymno. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $372 per month in Tbilisi and $382 in Rethymno. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Rethymno?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Rethymno at $1,385. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rethymno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Rethymno more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Rethymno?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rethymno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.