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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,380 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,041 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,702 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$6.45 BHD 2.43

67.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$45.93 BHD 17.31

-4.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$6.09 BHD 2.30

36.45%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$2.02 BHD 0.76

47.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₾2.01

$0.58 BHD 0.22

32.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.26 BHD 0.10

76.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$7.90 BHD 2.98

-72.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$10.53 BHD 3.97

-72.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.37 BHD 0.52

38.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$1.29 BHD 0.49

-44.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$2.38 BHD 0.90

-19.75%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.11 BHD 0.79

17.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$8.65 BHD 3.26

-10.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$6.88 BHD 2.59

-10.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$10.06 BHD 3.79

-4.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$2.46 BHD 0.93

-52.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$1.87 BHD 0.71

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$1.77 BHD 0.67

4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$1.21 BHD 0.46

92.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.05 BHD 0.40

-36.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$1.45 BHD 0.55

-17.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$0.51 BHD 0.19

29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$6.60 BHD 2.49

-55.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$13.40 BHD 5.05

-42.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$3.38 BHD 1.27

-52.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$3.27 BHD 1.23

-29.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.78 BHD 0.30

-51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

$32.12 BHD 12.11

-54.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$4.52 BHD 1.70

-66.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$4.09 BHD 1.54

-83.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

$26.83 BHD 10.11

-72.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$0.38 BHD 0.14

186.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.6K ₾48.8K

$26.4K BHD 9,941

-29.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$21.2K BHD 7,986

-3.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.0 ₾191

$120 BHD 45.11

-39.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.97 ₾31.40

$26.98 BHD 10.17

-55.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-53.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$80.9 BHD 30.50

-24.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$7.93 BHD 2.99

-15.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$269 ₾705

$391 BHD 147

-31.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

$6,714 BHD 2,530

-23.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$39.00 BHD 14.70

96.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$63.7 BHD 24.01

-31.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$65.6 BHD 24.72

83.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$39.27 BHD 14.80

181.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$1,173 BHD 442

-41.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$535 BHD 202

-12.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$2,105 BHD 793

-35.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$921 BHD 347

-14.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$1,381 BHD 520

-52.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

137.80%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Riffa: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $1,173 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 109% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $46.00 in Riffa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 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

Yes – Riffa is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $2,070 in Riffa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $1,380 in Riffa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 118% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Riffa at $1,380. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riffa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.