Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sal Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $997 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,518 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,038 in Sal, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 20% more than Sal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Sal 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$5.72 CVE 552

89.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$46.66 CVE 4,505

-6.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$7.38 CVE 712

12.60%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$2.37 CVE 229

25.32%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$2.43 CVE 234

-68.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$1.17 CVE 113

-60.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$3.98 CVE 384

-46.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$3.22 CVE 311

-10.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.47 CVE 142

29.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$2.18 CVE 210

-67.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$1.54 CVE 149

24.03%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.73 CVE 264

-9.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$11.08 CVE 1,069

-30.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$8.32 CVE 804

-25.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$16.37 CVE 1,581

-41.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$2.82 CVE 272

-58.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$2.55 CVE 246

-35.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$2.97 CVE 287

-37.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$4.05 CVE 391

-42.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$1.62 CVE 156

-56.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.99 CVE 192

-66.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$1.86 CVE 180

-36.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$1.11 CVE 107

-40.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$4.74 CVE 457

-38.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$6.65 CVE 642

15.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$3.07 CVE 297

-48.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$1.96 CVE 189

17.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$1.04 CVE 100

-63.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$2.12 CVE 205

-29.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$2.77 CVE 268

-75.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

$13.00 CVE 1,255

-44.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.48 CVE 143

-26.35%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

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

$73.0 ₾191

$91.3 CVE 8,818

-20.07%

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$56.0 CVE 5,408

-67.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$34.94 CVE 3,374

74.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

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

$269 ₾705

$146 CVE 14.1K

84.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

$2,548 CVE 246.1K

102.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$31.14 CVE 3,007

145.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$145 CVE 14.0K

-23.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$333 CVE 32.2K

106.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$294 CVE 28.4K

59.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$440 CVE 42.5K

207.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$388 CVE 37.5K

103.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

$672 CVE 64.9K

267.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

$343 CVE 33.2K

323.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$257 CVE 24.8K

156.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

6.17

92.71%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $333 in Sal. 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 156% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Sal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $301 – 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 Sal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $997 in Sal – roughly 20% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,495 in Sal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sal, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi and $47.00 in Sal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Sal 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 $997 in Sal to $1,197 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 Sal. 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.