😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $971 in Satu Mare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,485 in Satu Mare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $1,999 in Satu Mare.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 32% more expensive than in Satu Mare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Satu Mare29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.75
$8.95RON 40.41
27.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.3
$34.28RON 155
11.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.47
$6.60RON 29.81
42.42%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$2.64RON 11.92
28.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.51RON 6.83
-31.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$1.41RON 6.36
-57.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.05RON 9.25
32.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.91
$2.52RON 11.38
20.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.20RON 5.42
89.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$1.14RON 5.13
-30.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.22
$1.20RON 5.41
35.00%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.14
$2.79RON 12.58
-1.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.21
$7.42RON 33.51
25.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.66
$7.71RON 34.80
-11.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.87
$11.34RON 51.2
14.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.28
$1.19RON 5.36
37.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.42RON 6.39
28.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.36RON 6.14
39.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.69
$1.47RON 6.64
74.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$1.20RON 5.44
-30.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.44RON 6.51
-54.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.55
$0.97RON 4.40
40.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.73RON 3.30
9.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.86
$5.77RON 26.07
-41.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.96
$6.49RON 29.29
18.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.37
$1.26RON 5.67
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.19
$1.86RON 8.42
27.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.57RON 2.57
-31.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.48
$24.38RON 110
-36.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$0.83RON 3.73
37.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.86RON 3.88
-13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.45
$8.81RON 39.77
28.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.57RON 7.08
-12.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾64.0K
$24.1KRON 108.9K
1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$26.1KRON 117.8K
-15.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$133RON 602
-33.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.29
$7.73RON 34.88
70.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$7.70RON 34.77
155.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾178
$44.36RON 200
53.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.70
$11.16RON 50.4
60.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.72
$6.83RON 30.83
-6.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾968
$165RON 746
125.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$4,075RON 18.4K
165.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$63.1RON 285
65.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$29.49RON 133
31.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$88.6RON 400
29.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$74.1RON 335
64.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,772
$337RON 1,522
101.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$277RON 1,250
64.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,413
$666RON 3,007
96.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,323
$421RON 1,902
111.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,222
$1,050RON 4,742
127.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,708
$1,090RON 4,919
30.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Satu Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,665
$685RON 3,093
-6.63%
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: September 5, 2026
Last update for Satu Mare: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $337 in Satu Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Satu Mare pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $34.00 in Satu Mare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $205 per month, with Satu Mare 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 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 32% 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?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Satu Mare. 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 compared to Satu Mare?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $337 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 63% 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 $363 in Tbilisi versus $169 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 $971 in Satu Mare versus $1,286 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 $971 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 32% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.