Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and SalaCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sala
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,178 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,500 in Sala, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,227 in Sala, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,518 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,954 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 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₾29.35
$12.56SEK 118
-11.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$64.2SEK 600
-32.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.63
$10.43SEK 97.6
-18.02%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$3.25SEK 30.42
-8.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$1.82SEK 17.03
-58.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$2.52SEK 23.55
-81.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.88
$7.47SEK 69.9
-70.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.73
$7.58SEK 70.9
-61.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$1.77SEK 16.58
11.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$2.67SEK 25.01
-72.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$3.73SEK 34.93
-51.21%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$4.03SEK 37.70
-38.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.27
$11.89SEK 111
-35.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.59
$11.89SEK 111
-47.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.14
$15.96SEK 149
-40.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$3.06SEK 28.64
-59.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.33
$2.58SEK 24.11
-36.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$2.72SEK 25.46
-31.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.02
$5.30SEK 49.56
-57.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$1.50SEK 14.06
-55.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.18SEK 11.07
-43.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$2.75SEK 25.74
-55.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$1.02SEK 9.53
-31.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.73
$7.57SEK 70.9
-61.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.42
$6.31SEK 59.1
22.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$2.58SEK 24.17
-39.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$1.91SEK 17.88
16.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$3.13SEK 29.23
-87.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.81
$21.99SEK 206
-33.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$6.22SEK 58.1
-76.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$1.64SEK 15.35
-57.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.52
$21.15SEK 198
-65.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.92SEK 17.96
-40.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.1K
$42.2KSEK 394.8K
-56.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
$34.5KSEK 322.3K
-40.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$90.6SEK 848
-18.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.80
$20.68SEK 193
-43.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.65
$36.22SEK 339
-51.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$48.47SEK 453
26.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.59
$21.08SEK 197
-20.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.71
$18.63SEK 174
-64.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾699
$149SEK 1,397
76.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
$1,259SEK 11.8K
310.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
$46.04SEK 431
63.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
$36.25SEK 339
19.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
$54.8SEK 513
114.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
$58.1SEK 543
91.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,868
$756SEK 7,068
-6.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,221
$530SEK 4,954
-12.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,488
$963SEK 9,010
36.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,066
$720SEK 6,740
8.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,517
$3,957SEK 37.0K
-37.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,727
$2,730SEK 25.5K
-48.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,779
$2,533SEK 23.7K
-73.46%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Sala: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $706 in Tbilisi versus $756 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 277% 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 $64.0 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 27% 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 $1,767 per month in Tbilisi and $2,250 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 $264 per month in Tbilisi and $149 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 $1,178, than in Sala at $1,500. 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 $1,178 versus $1,500 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.