🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $2,519 in Sandvika.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $3,857 in Sandvika.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $5,196 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 11% below, Sandvika is 89% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$16.02NOK 152
-31.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$95.4NOK 904
-54.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$20.65NOK 196
-58.69%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$3.95NOK 37.43
-24.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$2.72NOK 25.83
-70.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$2.17NOK 20.59
-80.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$8.14NOK 77.2
-73.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$9.76NOK 92.6
-70.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$2.48NOK 23.48
-21.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$3.37NOK 31.95
-79.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.91NOK 18.07
-3.14%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$4.34NOK 41.19
-41.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$18.78NOK 178
-59.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$26.09NOK 247
-76.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$23.55NOK 223
-59.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$2.77NOK 26.26
-58.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$2.43NOK 23.08
-32.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$3.52NOK 33.41
-46.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$3.70NOK 35.10
-39.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$2.23NOK 21.13
-68.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$2.53NOK 24.01
-74.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$2.30NOK 21.84
-48.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.56NOK 14.75
-55.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$15.43NOK 146
-80.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$18.03NOK 171
-58.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$3.68NOK 34.85
-58.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$5.03NOK 47.73
-54.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$3.91NOK 37.07
-90.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$92.2NOK 874
-84.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$7.81NOK 74.0
-81.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$1.42NOK 13.42
-51.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$52.3NOK 496
-86.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$2.34NOK 22.23
-53.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$41.5KNOK 393.7K
-55.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$42.3KNOK 401.0K
-51.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$240NOK 2,278
-69.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$29.72NOK 282
-60.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$62.2NOK 590
-71.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$59.7NOK 566
0.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$35.10NOK 333
-53.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$19.92NOK 189
-67.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$296NOK 2,806
-9.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$10.0KNOK 95.2K
-48.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$138NOK 1,304
-43.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$51.5NOK 488
-15.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$128NOK 1,210
-7.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$196NOK 1,863
-42.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$1,191NOK 11.3K
-40.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$888NOK 8,419
-47.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$1,829NOK 17.3K
-28.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$1,523NOK 14.4K
-49.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$8,119NOK 77.0K
-69.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$4,411NOK 41.8K
-67.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sandvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$5,292NOK 50.2K
-87.47%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Sandvika: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $1,191 in Sandvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sandvika pays 698% 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 $95.0 in Sandvika for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $506 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 111% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $2,519 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 698% 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: $709 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 526% 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $296 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 $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $2,519 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 111% less than in Sandvika. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.