Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Scalea Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Scalea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,509 in Scalea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Tbilisi versus $2,280 in Scalea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Tbilisi versus $3,051 in Scalea.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 19% less than in Scalea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Scalea is 12% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78 โ‚พ29.00
$5.68 โ‚ฌ4.83
89.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10 โ‚พ116
$69.6 โ‚ฌ59.3
-38.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.27 โ‚พ22.24
$11.68 โ‚ฌ9.94
-29.20%
Cappuccino
$2.95 โ‚พ7.94
$1.69 โ‚ฌ1.44
74.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 โ‚พ2.05
$2.41 โ‚ฌ2.05
-68.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 โ‚พ1.13
$1.30 โ‚ฌ1.10
-67.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 โ‚พ6.03
$3.56 โ‚ฌ3.03
-37.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 โ‚พ7.71
$3.46 โ‚ฌ2.94
-17.05%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 โ‚พ5.19
$1.40 โ‚ฌ1.19
37.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 โ‚พ1.84
$1.77 โ‚ฌ1.50
-61.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 โ‚พ4.97
$2.50 โ‚ฌ2.13
-26.00%
Eggs
$2.49 โ‚พ6.69
$3.07 โ‚ฌ2.61
-18.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 โ‚พ20.27
$10.70 โ‚ฌ9.10
-29.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 โ‚พ17.09
$11.11 โ‚ฌ9.45
-42.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.43 โ‚พ25.38
$15.93 โ‚ฌ13.55
-40.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 โ‚พ3.16
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
-32.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 โ‚พ4.26
$1.61 โ‚ฌ1.37
-1.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 โ‚พ5.00
$1.49 โ‚ฌ1.27
24.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 โ‚พ6.03
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
28.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 โ‚พ1.79
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.17
-51.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 โ‚พ1.83
$1.19 โ‚ฌ1.01
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 โ‚พ3.17
$0.85 โ‚ฌ0.72
38.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 โ‚พ1.77
$0.44 โ‚ฌ0.37
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 โ‚พ8.25
$6.63 โ‚ฌ5.64
-53.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.56 โ‚พ20.34
$4.63 โ‚ฌ3.94
63.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 โ‚พ4.08
$1.99 โ‚ฌ1.69
-23.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 โ‚พ6.15
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.45
34.71%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 โ‚พ0.95
$1.77 โ‚ฌ1.51
-80.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.79 โ‚พ39.78
$42.93 โ‚ฌ36.54
-65.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.45 โ‚พ3.90
$6.85 โ‚ฌ5.83
-78.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 โ‚พ1.97
$1.07 โ‚ฌ0.91
-31.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 โ‚พ19.78
$28.86 โ‚ฌ24.56
-74.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 โ‚พ2.93
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.70
-45.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K โ‚พ49.5K
$25.8K โ‚ฌ21.9K
-28.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K โ‚พ54.5K
$25.8K โ‚ฌ22.0K
-21.52%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.3 โ‚พ197
$210 โ‚ฌ178
-65.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.72 โ‚พ31.53
$14.50 โ‚ฌ12.34
-19.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87 โ‚พ48.08
$39.28 โ‚ฌ33.43
-54.51%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 โ‚พ165
$54.1 โ‚ฌ46.02
13.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34 โ‚พ43.94
$22.89 โ‚ฌ19.48
-28.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 โ‚พ17.73
$9.27 โ‚ฌ7.89
-28.91%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 โ‚พ702
$453 โ‚ฌ385
-42.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,156 โ‚พ13.9K
$6,970 โ‚ฌ5,931
-26.02%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1 โ‚พ205
$78.8 โ‚ฌ67.0
-3.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83 โ‚พ118
$29.06 โ‚ฌ24.73
50.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 โ‚พ325
$87.1 โ‚ฌ74.1
38.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 โ‚พ304
$113 โ‚ฌ96.1
0.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 โ‚พ1,873
$750 โ‚ฌ638
-7.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 โ‚พ1,226
$579 โ‚ฌ492
-21.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 โ‚พ3,500
$1,236 โ‚ฌ1,052
5.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 โ‚พ2,067
$942 โ‚ฌ802
-18.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,500 โ‚พ6,725
$3,078 โ‚ฌ2,620
-18.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,432 โ‚พ3,853
$2,136 โ‚ฌ1,818
-32.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Scalea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 โ‚พ1,756
-
-
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

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.

Dining 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.

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