Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Satu Mare Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Satu Mare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $947 in Satu Mare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,455 in Satu Mare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,962 in Satu Mare.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 28% more expensive than Satu Mare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Satu Mare 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$8.97 RON 40.57
20.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$46.81 RON 212
-7.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$6.73 RON 30.41
23.18%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$2.44 RON 11.04
22.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.72 RON 7.79
-52.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.46 RON 6.60
-68.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.01 RON 9.08
10.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$2.27 RON 10.28
28.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.51 RON 6.84
27.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.13 RON 5.12
-39.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$1.27 RON 5.72
48.03%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$3.09 RON 13.95
-17.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$8.29 RON 37.48
-10.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$6.32 RON 28.56
-2.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$11.36 RON 51.4
-17.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.09 RON 4.91
11.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.50 RON 6.77
10.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.40 RON 6.32
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$1.79 RON 8.08
25.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.71 RON 3.22
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$0.98 RON 4.45
-31.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.67 RON 3.01
76.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.77 RON 3.48
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$5.71 RON 25.82
-47.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$6.47 RON 29.26
17.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.25 RON 5.64
23.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$1.67 RON 7.56
34.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.59 RON 2.68
-38.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$25.41 RON 115
-43.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$0.83 RON 3.74
79.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.87 RON 3.94
-21.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$7.32 RON 33.08
-1.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.55 RON 7.00
-26.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$25.1K RON 113.7K
-26.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$25.4K RON 115.0K
-21.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$137 RON 621
-46.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$8.00 RON 36.14
45.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$9.30 RON 42.06
91.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$48.87 RON 221
23.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$11.66 RON 52.7
44.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$6.79 RON 30.70
-2.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$187 RON 844
42.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$10.3K RON 46.3K
-49.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$65.8 RON 297
18.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$30.23 RON 137
48.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$81.2 RON 367
43.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$76.5 RON 346
47.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$304 RON 1,374
127.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$236 RON 1,069
95.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$546 RON 2,469
141.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$348 RON 1,574
122.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
$1,057 RON 4,776
130.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
$1,117 RON 5,048
29.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
$689 RON 3,115
-2.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6.66
78.53%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Satu Mare: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $304 in Satu Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Satu Mare pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $47.00 in Satu Mare. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $202, with Satu Mare cheaper for home cooking.

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 Satu Mare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Satu Mare?
Satu Mare wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Satu Mare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Satu Mare?
On paper, Satu Mare earns 2% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Satu Mare?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $304 in Satu Mare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Satu Mare?
A monthly transit pass in Satu Mare runs roughly 76% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Satu Mare?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $187 in Satu Mare. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Satu Mare?
At $947 in Satu Mare versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Satu Mare but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Satu Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Satu Mare?
Both work as nomad bases, but Satu Mare delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $947 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Satu Mare hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Satu Mare?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Satu Mare are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Satu Mare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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