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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $967 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,515 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,063 in Sandanski, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 22% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Sandanski are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Sandanski 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

$9.00 BGN 15.02

23.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

$48.03 BGN 80.2

-10.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

$8.37 BGN 13.98

-1.79%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

$2.48 BGN 4.13

26.21%

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

$0.74 ₾2.00

$1.45 BGN 2.42

-48.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

$0.91 BGN 1.53

-50.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

$2.89 BGN 4.82

-26.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

$2.90 BGN 4.84

3.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₾5.09

$1.80 BGN 3.01

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$1.02 BGN 1.71

-28.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

$2.18 BGN 3.63

-15.14%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.58

$3.07 BGN 5.13

-20.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

$11.60 BGN 19.37

-32.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

$7.66 BGN 12.80

-18.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₾26.28

$11.94 BGN 19.94

-18.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₾3.26

$1.58 BGN 2.64

-23.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

$1.70 BGN 2.83

-6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

$1.64 BGN 2.74

9.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₾6.25

$1.76 BGN 2.94

31.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

$1.04 BGN 1.73

-31.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$1.15 BGN 1.92

-41.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$1.08 BGN 1.81

9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₾1.92

$0.81 BGN 1.36

-12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

$3.46 BGN 5.78

-15.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 ₾19.50

$7.33 BGN 12.24

-1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.17

$0.96 BGN 1.61

61.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.21

$1.38 BGN 2.31

67.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

$0.84 BGN 1.41

-54.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

$26.42 BGN 44.12

-43.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

$1.20 BGN 2.00

23.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

$0.60 BGN 1.00

15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

$10.43 BGN 17.41

-28.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-23.33%

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

$18.0K ₾48.4K

$32.7K BGN 54.7K

-44.99%

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

$19.8K ₾53.4K

$28.6K BGN 47.8K

-30.70%

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

$73.4 ₾198

$96.2 BGN 161

-23.65%

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

$11.64 ₾31.32

$17.62 BGN 29.42

-33.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

$14.90 BGN 24.89

19.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

$29.57 BGN 49.38

104.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

$14.53 BGN 24.26

13.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

$8.93 BGN 14.92

-27.10%

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

$263 ₾707

$420 BGN 701

-37.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

$5,446 BGN 9,094

-5.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

$59.8 BGN 99.9

29.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

$35.82 BGN 59.8

23.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

$102 BGN 170

15.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

$107 BGN 179

6.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

$287 BGN 479

141.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

$228 BGN 381

102.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

$465 BGN 776

187.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

$352 BGN 587

121.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

$1,407 BGN 2,349

79.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

$1,114 BGN 1,860

28.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

$600 BGN 1,002

5.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

4.49

164.81%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $287 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 5% 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 $48.00 in Sandanski. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $233 – 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: $1,185 in Tbilisi, $967 in Sandanski – roughly 22% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,451 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 $1,185 in Tbilisi and $967 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 78% 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 $967, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. 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 $967 in Sandanski to $1,185 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.