Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and ScaleaCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Scalea
Monthly Cost of Living
๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,509 in Scalea.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Tbilisi versus $2,280 in Scalea.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Tbilisi versus $3,051 in Scalea.
๐Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 19% less than in Scalea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Scalea is 12% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78โพ29.00
$5.68โฌ4.83
89.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10โพ116
$69.6โฌ59.3
-38.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27โพ22.24
$11.68โฌ9.94
-29.20%
Cappuccino
$2.95โพ7.94
$1.69โฌ1.44
74.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76โพ2.05
$2.41โฌ2.05
-68.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42โพ1.13
$1.30โฌ1.10
-67.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24โพ6.03
$3.56โฌ3.03
-37.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87โพ7.71
$3.46โฌ2.94
-17.05%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93โพ5.19
$1.40โฌ1.19
37.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68โพ1.84
$1.77โฌ1.50
-61.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85โพ4.97
$2.50โฌ2.13
-26.00%
Eggs
$2.49โพ6.69
$3.07โฌ2.61
-18.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54โพ20.27
$10.70โฌ9.10
-29.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35โพ17.09
$11.11โฌ9.45
-42.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.43โพ25.38
$15.93โฌ13.55
-40.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18โพ3.16
$1.75โฌ1.49
-32.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58โพ4.26
$1.61โฌ1.37
-1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86โพ5.00
$1.49โฌ1.27
24.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24โพ6.03
$1.75โฌ1.49
28.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66โพ1.79
$1.37โฌ1.17
-51.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68โพ1.83
$1.19โฌ1.01
-42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18โพ3.17
$0.85โฌ0.72
38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66โพ1.77
$0.44โฌ0.37
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07โพ8.25
$6.63โฌ5.64
-53.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56โพ20.34
$4.63โฌ3.94
63.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52โพ4.08
$1.99โฌ1.69
-23.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29โพ6.15
$1.70โฌ1.45
34.71%
๐ Getting Around
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35โพ0.95
$1.77โฌ1.51
-80.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.79โพ39.78
$42.93โฌ36.54
-65.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45โพ3.90
$6.85โฌ5.83
-78.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73โพ1.97
$1.07โฌ0.91
-31.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35โพ19.78
$28.86โฌ24.56
-74.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09โพ2.93
$2.00โฌ1.70
-45.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4Kโพ49.5K
$25.8Kโฌ21.9K
-28.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3Kโพ54.5K
$25.8Kโฌ22.0K
-21.52%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.3โพ197
$210โฌ178
-65.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.72โพ31.53
$14.50โฌ12.34
-19.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87โพ48.08
$39.28โฌ33.43
-54.51%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2โพ165
$54.1โฌ46.02
13.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34โพ43.94
$22.89โฌ19.48
-28.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59โพ17.73
$9.27โฌ7.89
-28.91%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261โพ702
$453โฌ385
-42.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,156โพ13.9K
$6,970โฌ5,931
-26.02%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1โพ205
$78.8โฌ67.0
-3.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83โพ118
$29.06โฌ24.73
50.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121โพ325
$87.1โฌ74.1
38.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113โพ304
$113โฌ96.1
0.08%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696โพ1,873
$750โฌ638
-7.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456โพ1,226
$579โฌ492
-21.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,301โพ3,500
$1,236โฌ1,052
5.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768โพ2,067
$942โฌ802
-18.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,500โพ6,725
$3,078โฌ2,620
-18.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,432โพ3,853
$2,136โฌ1,818
-32.96%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$653โพ1,756
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.59
159.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 13, 2026
Last update for Scalea: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Tbilisi and $750 in Scalea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $43 in Tbilisi vs $70 in Scalea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $260 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 Scalea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Scalea?
Tbilisi and Scalea differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $1,509 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Scalea?
You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $2,264 in Scalea to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Scalea?
Rent for a central apartment: $696 in Tbilisi versus $750 in Scalea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Scalea?
Childcare runs $261 in Tbilisi versus $453 in Scalea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Scalea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,509 in Scalea, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Scalea. 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 Scalea?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Scalea safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Scalea 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 Scalea?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 24% less than in Scalea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.