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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,067 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,033 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,665 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,787 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,262 in Sandanski, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 20% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Sandanski are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Sandanski 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 ₾30.42

$9.49 BGN 15.79

23.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.79 ₾98.4

$46.71 BGN 77.7

-19.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.34 ₾24.31

$8.84 BGN 14.71

5.66%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ₾9.00

$2.83 BGN 4.71

21.91%

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

$1.09 ₾2.84

$1.67 BGN 2.77

-34.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₾1.55

$1.60 BGN 2.67

-63.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ₾7.35

$2.60 BGN 4.33

8.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ₾9.71

$4.25 BGN 7.07

-12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ₾5.71

$1.82 BGN 3.02

20.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$1.15 BGN 1.92

-35.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.29

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-27.31%

Eggs

$2.76 ₾7.20

$3.19 BGN 5.31

-13.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 ₾25.09

$12.13 BGN 20.18

-20.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 ₾17.94

$8.42 BGN 14.00

-18.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 ₾34.23

$15.29 BGN 25.44

-14.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.46

$1.70 BGN 2.82

0.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ₾4.49

$1.94 BGN 3.23

-11.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.87

$1.97 BGN 3.28

-5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₾6.49

$1.74 BGN 2.90

43.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ₾2.11

$1.08 BGN 1.80

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-38.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.25 BGN 2.07

10.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₾1.94

$0.79 BGN 1.32

-5.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.75

$4.04 BGN 6.72

-16.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.81 ₾20.34

$6.41 BGN 10.66

21.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₾4.34

$0.97 BGN 1.61

72.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₾6.10

$1.44 BGN 2.39

62.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.94 BGN 1.57

-60.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.56 ₾40.52

$24.68 BGN 41.06

-36.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.97

$1.38 BGN 2.29

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ₾2.03

$0.65 BGN 1.08

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.51 ₾29.97

$10.86 BGN 18.06

5.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$1.56 BGN 2.60

-14.74%

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

$24.8K ₾64.7K

$30.6K BGN 50.9K

-18.78%

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

$22.2K ₾57.8K

$25.3K BGN 42.2K

-12.41%

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

$90.3 ₾235

$117 BGN 194

-22.70%

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

$13.19 ₾34.35

$19.74 BGN 32.84

-33.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.73 ₾51.4

$15.80 BGN 26.29

24.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.3 ₾173

$32.74 BGN 54.5

102.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.64 ₾51.1

$18.69 BGN 31.10

5.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₾17.53

$9.36 BGN 15.57

-28.10%

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

$356 ₾928

$539 BGN 896

-33.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₾27.6K

$5,750 BGN 9,565

84.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$70.3 BGN 117

43.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.62 ₾103

$43.80 BGN 72.9

-9.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$98.6 BGN 164

16.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₾314

$109 BGN 181

10.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 ₾1,830

$345 BGN 574

103.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₾1,173

$265 BGN 441

69.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 ₾3,321

$562 BGN 935

126.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₾2,320

$408 BGN 679

118.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,587

$1,345 BGN 2,237

88.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,466 ₾3,818

$1,131 BGN 1,882

29.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 ₾1,696

$588 BGN 978

10.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

3.1

310.65%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 16, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Tbilisi versus $345 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Sandanski. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $253 – 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: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $1,067 in Sandanski – roughly 20% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $1,601 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 $1,279 in Tbilisi and $1,067 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 59% 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 $1,067, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. 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 $1,067 in Sandanski to $1,279 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.