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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,496 in Sala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,234 in Sala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,973 in Sala, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 21% cheaper than Sala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 12% below the global median, while Sala is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$12.80 SEK 119
-12.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$63.5 SEK 591
-32.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$10.15 SEK 94.4
-19.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$3.18 SEK 29.55
-1.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$1.83 SEK 17.05
-59.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$2.47 SEK 22.99
-81.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$7.29 SEK 67.8
-70.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$7.56 SEK 70.4
-60.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.83 SEK 17.06
3.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$2.65 SEK 24.65
-72.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$3.68 SEK 34.23
-49.73%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$4.07 SEK 37.86
-39.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$11.73 SEK 109
-33.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$11.91 SEK 111
-47.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$15.92 SEK 148
-38.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$3.02 SEK 28.10
-59.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$2.70 SEK 25.11
-41.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$2.72 SEK 25.33
-34.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$5.14 SEK 47.78
-54.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.52 SEK 14.13
-53.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.20 SEK 11.13
-44.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$2.72 SEK 25.32
-56.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$1.07 SEK 9.91
-33.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$7.55 SEK 70.3
-61.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$6.47 SEK 60.2
12.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$2.48 SEK 23.03
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.88 SEK 17.52
22.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$3.22 SEK 29.90
-88.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$21.91 SEK 204
-32.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$6.25 SEK 58.2
-76.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.66 SEK 15.44
-58.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$21.07 SEK 196
-64.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.98 SEK 18.40
-41.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$42.7K SEK 396.7K
-57.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$34.4K SEK 319.7K
-42.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$88.1 SEK 819
-16.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$21.33 SEK 198
-45.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$37.05 SEK 345
-52.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$48.76 SEK 453
24.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$21.11 SEK 196
-22.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$19.10 SEK 178
-65.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$147 SEK 1,367
78.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$1,286 SEK 12.0K
299.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$47.81 SEK 445
62.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$36.57 SEK 340
21.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$55.6 SEK 517
111.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$58.8 SEK 547
94.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$755 SEK 7,022
-8.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$534 SEK 4,965
-13.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$984 SEK 9,154
35.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$720 SEK 6,697
8.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$4,275 SEK 39.8K
-40.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$3,074 SEK 28.6K
-53.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$2,601 SEK 24.2K
-75.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.53
162.47%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sala: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $755 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 311% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $63.0 in Sala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $346 – 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 26% 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 vs Sala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $2,244 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 Sala?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Tbilisi and $147 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 Sala?
Groceries cost about 68% 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 Sala?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,185, than in Sala at $1,496. 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 $1,185 versus $1,496 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 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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