Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sandvika Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sandvika

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $2,499 in Sandvika.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $3,860 in Sandvika.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $5,221 in Sandvika.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 53% less than in Sandvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Sandvika is 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09 ₾29.33
$16.45 NOK 160
-32.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24 ₾114
$95.6 NOK 931
-54.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ₾22.62
$20.54 NOK 200
-58.37%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.86
$3.91 NOK 38.09
-24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.01
$2.85 NOK 27.75
-73.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$2.20 NOK 21.44
-79.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ₾5.87
$8.16 NOK 79.5
-72.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$9.52 NOK 92.7
-69.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₾5.21
$2.48 NOK 24.20
-20.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.94
$3.42 NOK 33.27
-78.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.81
$1.89 NOK 18.42
-3.70%
Eggs
$2.49 ₾6.60
$4.21 NOK 40.97
-40.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.66 ₾20.26
$18.89 NOK 184
-59.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 ₾16.58
$26.35 NOK 257
-76.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.50 ₾25.12
$23.47 NOK 229
-59.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 ₾3.24
$2.67 NOK 26.04
-53.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.32
$2.55 NOK 24.85
-35.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.95
$3.44 NOK 33.54
-45.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₾6.01
$3.75 NOK 36.53
-39.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.77
$2.13 NOK 20.70
-68.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.78
$2.52 NOK 24.58
-73.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₾3.23
$2.31 NOK 22.50
-47.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.85
$1.54 NOK 15.03
-54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$15.56 NOK 152
-81.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 ₾20.40
$18.23 NOK 178
-57.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.09
$3.58 NOK 34.85
-56.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₾5.86
$5.29 NOK 51.5
-58.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$3.83 NOK 37.29
-89.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.67 ₾38.78
$91.1 NOK 888
-83.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₾3.82
$8.01 NOK 78.1
-82.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$1.34 NOK 13.08
-48.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 ₾19.50
$52.0 NOK 506
-85.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.03
$2.27 NOK 22.12
-49.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾48.0K
$41.9K NOK 408.5K
-56.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₾54.1K
$42.4K NOK 413.0K
-51.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 ₾195
$239 NOK 2,331
-69.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.78
$30.56 NOK 298
-61.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63 ₾46.62
$62.9 NOK 612
-71.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 ₾162
$61.6 NOK 600
-0.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85 ₾44.55
$35.92 NOK 350
-53.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 ₾17.69
$20.39 NOK 199
-67.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾698
$293 NOK 2,852
-9.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,169 ₾13.7K
$10.3K NOK 99.9K
-49.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1 ₾199
$135 NOK 1,318
-44.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26 ₾114
$51.0 NOK 497
-15.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾311
$125 NOK 1,213
-5.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾295
$201 NOK 1,953
-44.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₾1,866
$1,191 NOK 11.6K
-40.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,220
$896 NOK 8,723
-48.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 ₾3,486
$1,854 NOK 18.1K
-28.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$781 ₾2,064
$1,521 NOK 14.8K
-48.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 ₾6,512
$8,252 NOK 80.4K
-70.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 ₾3,725
$4,470 NOK 43.5K
-68.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$672 ₾1,778
$5,210 NOK 50.8K
-87.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.8
147.71%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Sandvika: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $1,191 in Sandvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandvika pays 675% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $96.0 in Sandvika for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $508 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

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 Sandvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Sandvika?
Tbilisi and Sandvika differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($1,178 vs $2,499 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 675% lower in Sandvika. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Sandvika?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $1,191 in Sandvika. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and in Sandvika?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 521% less than in Sandvika. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Sandvika?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $293 in Sandvika. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $2,499 in Sandvika, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Sandvika. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Sandvika?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Sandvika safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sandvika are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Sandvika?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Sandvika. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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