😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $695 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,072 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,448 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 74% more than Samarinda, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Samarinda are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Samarinda48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$1.58Rp 28.2K
583.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$12.05Rp 215.2K
258.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$5.94Rp 106.1K
39.56%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$1.72Rp 30.7K
74.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.49Rp 8,754
67.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.39Rp 6,927
17.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.49Rp 44.5K
-10.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.55Rp 63.3K
-17.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.17Rp 20.9K
64.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.94Rp 16.7K
-27.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$0.72Rp 12.9K
161.11%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$1.54Rp 27.5K
64.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.30Rp 148.2K
-10.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$3.91Rp 69.9K
58.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$11.17Rp 199.5K
-16.20%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$5.75Rp 102.6K
-78.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.22Rp 21.8K
36.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.21Rp 21.6K
48.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.64Rp 29.3K
36.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.50Rp 26.9K
-52.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$2.06Rp 36.8K
-67.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.94Rp 16.8K
25.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.56Rp 9,975
17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.27Rp 40.5K
31.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$20.69Rp 369.5K
-63.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.12Rp 37.8K
-27.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$3.13Rp 56.0K
-28.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.32Rp 5,749
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$9.79Rp 174.8K
47.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$0.96Rp 17.1K
55.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.38Rp 6,749
78.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$2.98Rp 53.2K
142.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.63Rp 11.3K
80.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$24.6KRp 439.6M
-25.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$28.0KRp 500.0M
-28.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$70.3Rp 1.3M
4.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$4.24Rp 75.8K
174.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$22.90Rp 408.9K
-22.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$22.93Rp 409.4K
162.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$6.14Rp 109.6K
173.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$3.00Rp 53.5K
120.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$92.2Rp 1.6M
189.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$7,444Rp 132.9M
-30.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$41.15Rp 734.8K
88.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$31.26Rp 558.3K
43.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$65.9Rp 1.2M
77.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$73.6Rp 1.3M
53.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$262Rp 4.7M
164.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$158Rp 2.8M
191.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$596Rp 10.6M
121.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$336Rp 6.0M
130.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$1,151Rp 20.6M
111.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$652Rp 11.6M
121.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Samarinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$330Rp 5.9M
103.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.15
29.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Samarinda: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $262 in Samarinda. 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 104% 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 $12.00 in Samarinda. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $235 in Samarinda – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Samarinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Samarinda compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $695 in Samarinda – roughly 74% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Samarinda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,042 in Samarinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Samarinda?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, 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 $12.00 in Samarinda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Samarinda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $695 in Samarinda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $695, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Samarinda 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 Samarinda?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $695 in Samarinda to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Samarinda 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 Samarinda?
If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. 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.