Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Rustavi Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Rustavi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $875 in Rustavi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,312 in Rustavi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,749 in Rustavi, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 35% more than Rustavi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Rustavi are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Rustavi 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

$11.05 ₾29.73

0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

$29.04 ₾78.1

48.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

$8.22 ₾22.10

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

$1.91 ₾5.13

63.87%

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

$0.74 ₾2.00

$0.81 ₾2.18

-8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

$0.46 ₾1.23

-2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

$2.25 ₾6.05

-5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

$2.98 ₾8.03

0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₾5.09

$1.97 ₾5.29

-4.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$0.73 ₾1.96

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

$1.50 ₾4.05

23.33%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.58

$2.27 ₾6.10

7.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

$7.59 ₾20.42

3.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

$4.72 ₾12.70

32.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₾26.28

$9.48 ₾25.49

3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₾3.26

$0.93 ₾2.50

30.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

$1.63 ₾4.37

-2.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

$1.85 ₾4.98

-3.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₾6.25

$1.00 ₾2.68

132.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

$0.70 ₾1.88

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$0.58 ₾1.55

15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$1.20 ₾3.23

-1.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₾1.92

$0.70 ₾1.89

1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

$3.01 ₾8.10

-2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 ₾19.50

$3.71 ₾9.98

95.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.17

$1.52 ₾4.10

1.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.21

$2.20 ₾5.93

5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

$0.23 ₾0.62

65.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

$10.82 ₾29.10

36.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

$1.30 ₾3.49

13.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

$0.35 ₾0.94

97.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

$3.77 ₾10.14

97.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

$1.10 ₾2.96

4.55%

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

$18.0K ₾48.4K

$18.0K ₾48.5K

-0.18%

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

$19.8K ₾53.4K

$9,074 ₾24.4K

118.57%

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

$73.4 ₾198

$73.4 ₾197

0.07%

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

$11.64 ₾31.32

$7.10 ₾19.09

63.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

$11.04 ₾29.70

60.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

$25.17 ₾67.7

140.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

$18.15 ₾48.82

-9.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

$6.55 ₾17.62

-0.61%

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

$263 ₾707

$265 ₾712

-0.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

$5,104 ₾13.7K

0.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

$74.4 ₾200

4.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

$43.53 ₾117

1.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

$105 ₾281

12.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

$105 ₾283

8.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

$258 ₾695

168.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

$240 ₾647

92.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

$430 ₾1,157

210.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

$293 ₾787

166.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

$1,009 ₾2,714

150.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

$744 ₾2,001

92.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

$436 ₾1,173

45.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Rustavi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $258 in Rustavi. 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 45% higher in Tbilisi, 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 $29.00 in Rustavi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $180 – making Rustavi 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 Rustavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi, $875 in Rustavi – roughly 35% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,312 in Rustavi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rustavi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $29.00 in Rustavi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,185 in Tbilisi and $875 in Rustavi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rustavi, where all-in costs run around $875, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Rustavi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $875 in Rustavi to $1,185 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Rustavi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.