Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Roman Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Roman

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $996 in Roman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $1,492 in Roman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $1,987 in Roman.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 20% more expensive than Roman, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Roman 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 ₾29.20
$12.01 RON 52.1
-9.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33 ₾117
$27.97 RON 121
54.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.25 ₾22.19
$7.95 RON 34.52
3.77%
Cappuccino
$3.10 ₾8.33
$3.44 RON 14.92
-9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.15
$1.17 RON 5.06
-31.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.24
$2.01 RON 8.74
-77.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.81
$3.26 RON 14.13
-33.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 ₾7.92
$2.32 RON 10.06
26.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.19
$1.53 RON 6.62
26.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.90 RON 3.89
-25.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.91
$1.65 RON 7.15
10.30%
Eggs
$2.56 ₾6.88
$3.12 RON 13.56
-17.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 ₾20.48
$8.92 RON 38.71
-14.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 ₾17.50
$7.13 RON 30.96
-8.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 ₾26.00
$11.58 RON 50.3
-16.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.12
$0.95 RON 4.13
22.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.36
$1.53 RON 6.63
5.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾5.04
$1.52 RON 6.62
23.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.26
$2.24 RON 9.71
4.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.75
$0.78 RON 3.41
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₾1.70
$1.01 RON 4.38
-37.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.17
$0.87 RON 3.80
35.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.90
$0.79 RON 3.41
-11.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 ₾8.17
$6.01 RON 26.07
-49.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₾19.56
$6.72 RON 29.18
8.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.27
$1.13 RON 4.91
40.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₾6.18
$1.65 RON 7.18
39.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.96
$0.72 RON 3.13
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.68 ₾39.48
$20.10 RON 87.3
-26.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾4.03
$0.67 RON 2.89
123.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₾1.87
$0.64 RON 2.78
9.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 ₾19.78
$6.77 RON 29.38
8.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₾3.05
$1.59 RON 6.91
-28.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾49.0K
$27.9K RON 121.1K
-34.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ₾54.5K
$27.5K RON 119.4K
-26.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.0 ₾199
$92.9 RON 403
-20.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87 ₾31.93
$3.48 RON 15.11
241.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55 ₾47.20
$5.62 RON 24.41
212.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾162
$41.77 RON 181
44.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69 ₾44.89
$19.26 RON 83.6
-13.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾18.10
$10.76 RON 46.69
-37.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₾703
$317 RON 1,377
-17.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,146 ₾13.8K
$6,640 RON 28.8K
-22.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6 ₾209
$66.5 RON 289
16.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾117
$17.07 RON 74.1
154.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾318
$95.1 RON 413
24.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾298
$35.00 RON 152
216.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,891
$391 RON 1,696
79.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₾1,231
$292 RON 1,266
56.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 ₾3,621
$582 RON 2,525
131.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₾2,120
$442 RON 1,917
78.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,560 ₾6,885
$1,691 RON 7,339
51.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,443 ₾3,881
$1,271 RON 5,515
13.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Roman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 ₾1,742
$882 RON 3,828
-26.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.7
54.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Last update for Roman: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $391 in Roman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Roman pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43 in Tbilisi vs $28 in Roman. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $211, 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 Roman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roman cheaper than Tbilisi?
Roman is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Roman?
On paper, Roman earns 36% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Roman?
Rent for a central apartment: $703 in Tbilisi versus $391 in Roman. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Roman?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Roman?
Dining out is cheaper in Roman – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Roman?
At $996 in Roman versus $1,199 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roman but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Roman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Roman more family-friendly?
For families, Roman is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Roman?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Roman are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Roman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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