Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and SalCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sal
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $888 in Sal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,374 in Sal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,860 in Sal, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 45% more than Sal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi6% lower, Sal35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.58
$5.95CVE 564
96.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.9
$46.67CVE 4,428
-18.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.43
$11.41CVE 1,083
-14.64%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.91
$2.43CVE 231
40.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.77
$2.72CVE 258
-61.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.18CVE 112
-44.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.06
$4.79CVE 454
-43.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.09
$3.08CVE 293
0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.74
$1.58CVE 150
39.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$2.33CVE 221
-65.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$1.23CVE 117
33.33%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.19
$2.91CVE 276
-5.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.52
$9.60CVE 911
-6.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.10
$7.82CVE 742
-16.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.94
$16.71CVE 1,586
-24.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$3.34CVE 317
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$2.48CVE 235
-27.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.04
$3.45CVE 327
-44.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$4.03CVE 383
-35.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$1.72CVE 163
-49.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.92CVE 182
-66.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$1.62CVE 153
-14.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$1.13CVE 107
-29.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$4.78CVE 453
-29.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.68
$6.87CVE 652
9.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$4.14CVE 393
-61.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$1.96CVE 186
14.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$1.03CVE 98.1
-64.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.45
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.08CVE 198
-43.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$3.19CVE 303
-74.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.58
$13.22CVE 1,254
-14.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.37CVE 130
-2.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾233
$63.5CVE 6,024
40.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.58
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$50.6CVE 4,804
-61.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾179
$29.27CVE 2,777
133.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.77
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.32
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾949
$120CVE 11.4K
202.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$30.98CVE 2,939
234.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$145CVE 13.8K
-15.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,782
$267CVE 25.4K
155.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,166
$172CVE 16.4K
159.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,353
$317CVE 30.1K
304.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,401
$207CVE 19.6K
345.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,492
$682CVE 64.7K
264.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,715
$349CVE 33.1K
308.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,686
$267CVE 25.3K
142.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
5.25
142.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Sal: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $267 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 142% 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Sal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $307 – 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
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Sal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $888 in Sal – roughly 45% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Sal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $1,331 in Sal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Sal?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $47.00 in Sal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Sal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Sal?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $888 in Sal to $1,286 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Sal safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Sal?
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.