Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and SalCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sal
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,014 in Sal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,540 in Sal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,066 in Sal, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 19% more than Sal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tbilisi and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Sal24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$5.80CVE 549
86.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$46.87CVE 4,437
-7.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$7.28CVE 690
13.87%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$2.28CVE 216
31.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$2.43CVE 230
-66.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.12CVE 106
-58.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$3.85CVE 364
-42.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.11CVE 295
-6.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.50CVE 142
28.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$2.22CVE 210
-69.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.55CVE 147
21.29%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.87CVE 272
-11.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$11.06CVE 1,048
-32.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$8.21CVE 777
-24.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$16.60CVE 1,572
-43.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.93CVE 278
-58.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.54CVE 240
-34.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.94CVE 279
-38.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$4.16CVE 394
-46.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.63CVE 154
-56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.97CVE 186
-65.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.84CVE 174
-35.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.14CVE 108
-42.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$4.84CVE 459
-38.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$6.99CVE 662
8.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.98CVE 283
-48.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$1.97CVE 187
14.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.03CVE 97.7
-65.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$2.13CVE 201
-30.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$2.83CVE 268
-75.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$12.83CVE 1,214
-43.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.43CVE 135
-20.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$89.8CVE 8,500
-17.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$55.2CVE 5,225
-67.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$35.47CVE 3,358
69.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$150CVE 14.2K
78.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$2,546CVE 241.1K
103.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$31.74CVE 3,006
144.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$146CVE 13.8K
-22.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$335CVE 31.7K
106.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$295CVE 27.9K
56.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$446CVE 42.2K
195.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$400CVE 37.9K
93.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$674CVE 63.8K
260.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$348CVE 33.0K
314.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$263CVE 24.9K
155.85%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sal: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $335 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Sal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $304 – 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 Sal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $1,014 in Sal – roughly 19% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Sal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,521 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 $43.00 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 50% 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 $1,014, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $1,014 in Sal to $1,209 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.