Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sandanski Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sandanski

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,029 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,029 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,639 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,806 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,249 in Sandanski, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 22% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Sandanski are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Sandanski 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.42 ₾29.63

$9.47 BGN 16.47

20.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.57 ₾100

$46.88 BGN 81.6

-17.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 ₾25.02

$9.58 BGN 16.68

0.63%

Cappuccino

$3.42 ₾8.88

$2.83 BGN 4.93

20.85%

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

$1.09 ₾2.83

$1.63 BGN 2.83

-33.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₾1.64

$1.58 BGN 2.75

-60.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.02

$2.60 BGN 4.52

3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₾8.66

$3.99 BGN 6.93

-16.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₾5.59

$1.70 BGN 2.95

26.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.90

$1.14 BGN 1.98

-35.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 ₾4.54

$2.28 BGN 3.97

-23.25%

Eggs

$2.80 ₾7.26

$3.04 BGN 5.28

-7.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 ₾24.35

$11.85 BGN 20.61

-20.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₾17.60

$8.61 BGN 14.98

-21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.87 ₾33.40

$14.39 BGN 25.03

-10.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ₾4.39

$1.72 BGN 3.00

-1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.69

$1.91 BGN 3.32

-5.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.88

$2.03 BGN 3.53

-7.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₾6.44

$1.73 BGN 3.01

43.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$1.08 BGN 1.89

-25.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₾1.71

$1.10 BGN 1.92

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ₾3.50

$1.24 BGN 2.16

8.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₾1.94

$0.80 BGN 1.38

-6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.72

$3.98 BGN 6.92

-15.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 ₾20.47

$6.43 BGN 11.19

22.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.40

$0.95 BGN 1.65

78.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₾6.14

$1.42 BGN 2.48

66.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.99 BGN 1.72

-63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.65 ₾40.59

$27.00 BGN 46.99

-42.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.05

$1.31 BGN 2.28

-10.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.91

$0.66 BGN 1.14

10.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 ₾30.05

$10.64 BGN 18.51

8.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₾3.61

$1.48 BGN 2.57

-6.08%

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

$24.5K ₾63.5K

$30.2K BGN 52.5K

-18.87%

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

$22.1K ₾57.3K

$25.6K BGN 44.6K

-13.81%

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

$90.7 ₾235

$115 BGN 200

-21.17%

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

$12.97 ₾33.64

$18.79 BGN 32.70

-30.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.37 ₾50.3

$15.79 BGN 27.47

22.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 ₾170

$31.61 BGN 55.0

107.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 ₾48.14

$18.96 BGN 32.99

-2.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₾17.07

$9.04 BGN 15.73

-27.21%

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

$365 ₾947

$525 BGN 913

-30.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.9K

$5,637 BGN 9,808

90.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾269

$68.7 BGN 120

51.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.86 ₾101

$43.18 BGN 75.1

-10.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₾300

$96.4 BGN 168

20.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₾313

$104 BGN 181

15.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$677 ₾1,756

$334 BGN 581

102.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 ₾1,142

$255 BGN 444

72.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₾3,411

$547 BGN 952

140.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$909 ₾2,357

$407 BGN 707

123.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,372 ₾6,154

$1,368 BGN 2,380

73.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,403 ₾3,639

$1,098 BGN 1,911

27.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ₾1,697

$590 BGN 1,027

10.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.59

3.1

306.13%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 28, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Tbilisi versus $334 in Sandanski. 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 11% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Sandanski. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $249 – 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 Sandanski: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,253 in Tbilisi, $1,029 in Sandanski – roughly 22% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,879 per month in Tbilisi and $1,544 in Sandanski. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Tbilisi and $1,029 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 73% less in Sandanski. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandanski, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Tbilisi at $1,253. In Sandanski it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,029 in Sandanski to $1,253 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Sandanski. 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.