Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Riobamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Riobamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $578 in Riobamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $910 in Riobamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $1,241 in Riobamba.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 121% more expensive than in Riobamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 7% lower, Riobamba 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$3.52 $3.52

224.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$16.18 $16.18

135.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$6.20 $6.20

51.61%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$2.44 $2.44

38.52%

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

$1.04 ₾2.70

$0.73 $0.73

42.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.58 $0.58

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$2.06 $2.06

31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$3.07 $3.07

-0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$1.03 $1.03

120.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$1.60 $1.60

-50.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$0.81 $0.81

100.00%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$1.77 $1.77

54.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$1.97 $1.97

372.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$3.15 $3.15

115.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$4.64 $4.64

180.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$1.72 $1.72

-4.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$0.48 $0.48

281.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$1.62 $1.62

17.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$1.03 $1.03

149.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$0.77 $0.77

9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.87 $0.87

-25.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$0.44 $0.44

209.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.98 $0.98

-18.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$5.11 $5.11

-33.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$5.55 $5.55

38.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$1.57 $1.57

7.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$3.28 $3.28

-27.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.27 $0.27

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$20.39 $20.39

-23.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$0.98 $0.98

16.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$1.09 $1.09

-32.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$11.09 $11.09

2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$0.86 $0.86

60.47%

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

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

-2.12%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$29.4K $29.4K

-25.14%

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

$88.7 ₾231

$20.16 $20.16

340.13%

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

$13.18 ₾34.26

$7.07 $7.07

86.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$26.74 $26.74

-26.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$25.41 $25.41

168.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

$16.14 $16.14

11.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$6.02 $6.02

6.64%

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

$372 ₾967

$80.0 $80.0

364.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$1,413 $1,413

665.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$50.6 $50.6

106.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$46.19 $46.19

-15.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$104 $104

10.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$74.3 $74.3

64.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$116 $116

487.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$96.8 $96.8

370.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$227 $227

477.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$191 $191

366.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$1,203 $1,203

98.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$789 $789

80.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$339 $339

88.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

10.95

15.25%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Riobamba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $116 in Riobamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 88% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $16.00 in Riobamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $138 per month, with Riobamba cheaper across the board.

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 Riobamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and Riobamba differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($1,279 vs $578 including rent). Riobamba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 88% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $116 in Riobamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $80.0 in Riobamba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $578 in Riobamba versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Riobamba but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Riobamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Riobamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Riobamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.