Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Riffa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Riffa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,384 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,059 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,734 in Riffa, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 13% cheaper than Riffa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Tbilisi sits 10% below the global median, while Riffa is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$6.50 BHD 2.45
66.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$47.19 BHD 17.79
-8.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$6.09 BHD 2.30
36.12%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$1.96 BHD 0.74
53.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$0.61 BHD 0.23
34.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.28 BHD 0.11
64.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$8.10 BHD 3.05
-72.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$10.69 BHD 4.03
-72.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.32 BHD 0.50
46.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.29 BHD 0.49
-47.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$2.37 BHD 0.89
-20.68%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$2.17 BHD 0.82
17.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$8.94 BHD 3.37
-17.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$6.94 BHD 2.62
-10.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$10.06 BHD 3.79
-6.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$2.33 BHD 0.88
-47.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.85 BHD 0.70
-10.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.77 BHD 0.67
1.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$1.22 BHD 0.46
83.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.94 BHD 0.35
-24.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.07 BHD 0.41
-37.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.44 BHD 0.54
-18.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.51 BHD 0.19
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$6.59 BHD 2.49
-54.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$13.30 BHD 5.02
-42.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$3.45 BHD 1.30
-55.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$3.32 BHD 1.25
-32.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.77 BHD 0.29
-53.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$32.41 BHD 12.22
-55.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$4.54 BHD 1.71
-67.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$4.03 BHD 1.52
-83.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$27.04 BHD 10.19
-73.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$0.36 BHD 0.14
216.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$26.0K BHD 9,819
-29.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$20.6K BHD 7,776
-3.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$122 BHD 46.10
-39.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$26.89 BHD 10.14
-56.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$39.00 BHD 14.70
-54.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$80.2 BHD 30.25
-25.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$7.99 BHD 3.01
-17.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$395 BHD 149
-32.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$6,656 BHD 2,509
-22.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$39.40 BHD 14.86
97.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$63.4 BHD 23.88
-29.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$67.4 BHD 25.40
73.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$39.72 BHD 14.98
184.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$1,179 BHD 445
-41.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$531 BHD 200
-13.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$2,163 BHD 815
-38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$945 BHD 356
-18.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Riffa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
$1,410 BHD 532
-52.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5
137.80%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Riffa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,179 in Riffa. 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 110% higher in Riffa, 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Riffa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $239 – 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 Riffa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riffa cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Riffa is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $2,076 in Riffa. 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 vs Riffa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $1,384 in Riffa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Riffa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Riffa at $1,384. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riffa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Riffa 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 Riffa?
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, Riffa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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