Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Satu Mare

For one person, living is cheaper in Satu Mare: $930 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Satu Mare
🇷🇴 Romania
$930
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Satu Mare

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Satu Mare actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $930 in Satu Mare.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Satu Mare $930

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $1,406 in Satu Mare.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Satu Mare $1,406

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $1,883 in Satu Mare.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Satu Mare $1,883

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 37% more expensive than in Satu Mare, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Satu Mare 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$8.20 RON 38.81
40.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$32.51 RON 154
17.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$6.48 RON 30.67
51.23%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$2.50 RON 11.81
42.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$1.49 RON 7.04
-28.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$1.28 RON 6.07
-51.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$1.87 RON 8.87
47.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$2.44 RON 11.55
22.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.13 RON 5.33
91.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.06 RON 5.04
-28.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.13 RON 5.36
53.98%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.69 RON 12.71
3.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$7.35 RON 34.79
25.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$7.53 RON 35.63
-13.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$10.83 RON 51.2
18.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.10 RON 5.19
51.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.30 RON 6.15
42.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.28 RON 6.04
54.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$1.43 RON 6.75
75.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.19 RON 5.61
-26.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.37 RON 6.48
-46.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.88 RON 4.14
61.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.71 RON 3.34
1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$5.57 RON 26.38
-39.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$6.19 RON 29.29
26.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.23 RON 5.80
31.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$1.70 RON 8.06
40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.54 RON 2.56
-31.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$23.41 RON 111
-33.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$0.80 RON 3.79
42.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.85 RON 4.03
-7.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$8.10 RON 38.34
42.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.58 RON 7.47
-5.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$22.8K RON 107.9K
8.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$25.3K RON 119.5K
-11.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$126 RON 597
-30.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$7.14 RON 33.79
83.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$7.25 RON 34.30
169.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$41.55 RON 197
54.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$10.68 RON 50.5
79.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$6.19 RON 29.29
12.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$155 RON 733
140.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$3,829 RON 18.1K
179.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$59.6 RON 282
72.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$28.51 RON 135
41.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$85.6 RON 405
35.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$69.2 RON 328
76.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$322 RON 1,524
110.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$260 RON 1,229
74.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$647 RON 3,060
97.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$410 RON 1,938
117.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$1,007 RON 4,765
139.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$1,056 RON 4,995
34.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$650 RON 3,075
8.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
7.05
79.01%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Satu Mare: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Satu Mare
$260 42.8% $195
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Satu Mare
$195 16.2% $38
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Satu Mare
$140 26.3% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Satu Mare
$109 36.3% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Satu Mare
$141 16.3% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Satu Mare
$54 31% $24
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Satu Mare
$31 38.6% $8.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $322 in Satu Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 8% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $33.00 in Satu Mare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $195 per month, with Satu Mare cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇷🇴 Satu Mare
🕒 Local time
03:28 3:28 AM
02:28 2:28 AM
1 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
102,411
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Satu Mare 1,850 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Satu Mare

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 37% 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 in Satu Mare?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Satu Mare?
Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Tbilisi versus $322 in Satu Mare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Satu Mare?
A monthly transit pass in Satu Mare runs roughly 51% 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 in Satu Mare?
Childcare runs $373 in Tbilisi versus $155 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 in Satu Mare?
At $930 in Satu Mare versus $1,270 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 $930 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 37% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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