Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Samokov Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Samokov

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,014 in Samokov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,587 in Samokov, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,160 in Samokov, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 17% more than Samokov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Samokov are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Samokov 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

$10.29 BGN 17.19

8.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

$41.57 BGN 69.4

3.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

$9.96 BGN 16.63

-17.47%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

$1.87 BGN 3.12

67.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾2.00

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-45.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

$1.00 BGN 1.68

-55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

$1.95 BGN 3.25

9.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

$2.91 BGN 4.85

2.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₾5.09

$2.04 BGN 3.40

-7.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$1.01 BGN 1.69

-27.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

$2.86 BGN 4.77

-35.31%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.58

$3.87 BGN 6.46

-36.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

$12.84 BGN 21.44

-38.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

$8.55 BGN 14.28

-26.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₾26.28

$13.23 BGN 22.09

-26.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₾3.26

$1.65 BGN 2.75

-26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

$2.23 BGN 3.73

-28.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

$2.02 BGN 3.37

-11.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₾6.25

$2.79 BGN 4.66

-16.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

$1.15 BGN 1.92

-38.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$1.38 BGN 2.31

-51.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$1.23 BGN 2.06

-4.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₾1.92

$0.77 BGN 1.29

-7.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

$3.71 BGN 6.19

-21.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 ₾19.50

$7.30 BGN 12.20

-0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.17

$1.24 BGN 2.08

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.21

$1.61 BGN 2.69

43.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

$0.85 BGN 1.42

-55.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

$26.73 BGN 44.64

-44.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

$1.21 BGN 2.02

22.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

$0.64 BGN 1.07

7.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

$11.68 BGN 19.50

-36.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

$1.52 BGN 2.54

-24.34%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K ₾48.4K

$36.8K BGN 61.4K

-51.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.8K ₾53.4K

$34.5K BGN 57.7K

-42.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.4 ₾198

$121 BGN 202

-39.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾31.32

$17.07 BGN 28.51

-31.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

$13.14 BGN 21.94

35.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

$29.14 BGN 48.66

107.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

$14.59 BGN 24.37

12.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

$7.26 BGN 12.12

-10.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$263 ₾707

$324 BGN 542

-19.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

$5,487 BGN 9,164

-6.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

$43.91 BGN 73.3

76.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

$29.25 BGN 48.85

51.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

$128 BGN 214

-8.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

$76.3 BGN 127

49.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

$285 BGN 476

143.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

$229 BGN 383

101.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

$471 BGN 786

184.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

$359 BGN 599

117.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

$1,533 BGN 2,560

65.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

$999 BGN 1,668

43.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

$746 BGN 1,246

-15.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

5.1

133.14%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Samokov: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $285 in Samokov. 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 18% higher in Samokov, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $42.00 in Samokov. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Tbilisi vs $266 in Samokov – 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 Samokov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 17% more than Samokov, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,521 in Samokov. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samokov, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Tbilisi and $324 in Samokov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Samokov, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Samokov it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samokov costs $1,014 versus $1,185 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Samokov. 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.