Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sala Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,619 in Sala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,351 in Sala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,083 in Sala, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 23% cheaper than Sala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 9% below the global median, while Sala is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$12.46 SEK 123
-9.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$61.7 SEK 608
-37.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$10.06 SEK 99.2
-5.37%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$3.30 SEK 32.50
3.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.87 SEK 18.44
-44.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$2.33 SEK 23.01
-72.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$7.12 SEK 70.2
-63.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$7.32 SEK 72.2
-55.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.81 SEK 17.88
19.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$2.62 SEK 25.85
-71.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$3.64 SEK 35.85
-53.02%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$5.00 SEK 49.28
-43.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$11.89 SEK 117
-22.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$13.80 SEK 136
-51.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$22.79 SEK 225
-43.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$3.08 SEK 30.39
-46.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$2.68 SEK 26.39
-33.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$2.72 SEK 26.85
-31.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$4.92 SEK 48.51
-50.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$1.54 SEK 15.16
-43.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.22 SEK 12.06
-46.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$2.72 SEK 26.82
-48.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$1.02 SEK 10.05
-27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$7.33 SEK 72.2
-53.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$6.30 SEK 62.1
20.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$2.01 SEK 19.80
-15.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$1.93 SEK 19.00
23.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$3.11 SEK 30.65
-88.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$21.82 SEK 215
-30.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$6.03 SEK 59.4
-80.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$1.84 SEK 18.17
-58.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
$83.3 SEK 820
-86.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$1.76 SEK 17.31
-24.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$34.5K SEK 339.8K
-28.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$34.3K SEK 337.7K
-35.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$186 SEK 1,835
-52.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$21.01 SEK 207
-36.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$39.07 SEK 385
-48.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$47.16 SEK 465
45.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.01
$20.57 SEK 203
-12.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$16.44 SEK 162
-59.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$164 SEK 1,618
127.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$1,266 SEK 12.5K
744.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$45.96 SEK 453
120.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$36.55 SEK 360
7.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$55.3 SEK 544
112.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$57.8 SEK 570
111.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$757 SEK 7,464
-9.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$536 SEK 5,285
-14.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,385
$967 SEK 9,533
34.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$714 SEK 7,040
25.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,365
$4,196 SEK 41.3K
-41.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,774
$2,926 SEK 28.8K
-50.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$2,489 SEK 24.5K
-73.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
3.2
294.37%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sala: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $757 in Sala. 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 282% higher in Sala, 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $62.0 in Sala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $376 – 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 Sala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Sala?
Sala costs about 30% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Sala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $2,429 in Sala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Sala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Sala?
Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $164 in Sala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Sala?
Groceries cost about 62% more in Sala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Sala?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Sala at $1,619. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Sala?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,247 versus $1,619 in Sala. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Sala?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Sala?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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