😐A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $581 in Semarang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $928 in Semarang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,274 in Semarang, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 120% more than Semarang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Semarang are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi7% lower, Semarang58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$1.45Rp 25.5K
688.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$10.54Rp 185.6K
262.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$3.14Rp 55.3K
199.36%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$1.24Rp 21.9K
172.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$0.49Rp 8,635
112.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.18Rp 3,148
233.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$1.75Rp 30.8K
54.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$3.43Rp 60.3K
-11.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.12Rp 19.8K
102.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$0.96Rp 16.9K
-17.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$0.79Rp 14.0K
105.06%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$1.38Rp 24.3K
98.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$5.66Rp 99.6K
64.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$2.36Rp 41.6K
187.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$8.16Rp 143.6K
59.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$2.52Rp 44.5K
-34.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.53Rp 27.0K
19.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.81Rp 31.9K
4.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.56Rp 27.5K
64.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$1.79Rp 31.5K
-53.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$2.23Rp 39.3K
-70.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.83Rp 14.6K
63.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.42Rp 7,375
90.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$2.26Rp 39.8K
50.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$14.17Rp 249.5K
-45.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$2.35Rp 41.4K
-28.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$2.70Rp 47.5K
-11.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.24Rp 4,246
62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
$14.32Rp 252.2K
8.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$0.89Rp 15.6K
28.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.29Rp 5,129
155.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$0.80Rp 14.0K
72.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$23.0KRp 405.1M
6.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$31.1KRp 547.6M
-29.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$68.1Rp 1.2M
30.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$2.69Rp 47.3K
389.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$20.77Rp 365.6K
-5.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$21.00Rp 369.8K
225.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
$4.76Rp 83.8K
276.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$2.22Rp 39.1K
189.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$40.97Rp 721.3K
807.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$2,231Rp 39.3M
384.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$28.65Rp 504.3K
264.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$29.45Rp 518.4K
31.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$58.8Rp 1.0M
95.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$39.84Rp 701.5K
207.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$229Rp 4.0M
197.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$143Rp 2.5M
217.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$496Rp 8.7M
164.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$394Rp 6.9M
126.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$1,178Rp 20.7M
102.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$557Rp 9.8M
155.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$196Rp 3.5M
226.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
7.83
61.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Semarang: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $229 in Semarang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 226% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $11.00 in Semarang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $183 – making Semarang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Semarang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Semarang cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 120%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $872 in Semarang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Semarang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Semarang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $11.00 in Semarang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Semarang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $581 in Semarang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Semarang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Semarang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Semarang?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Semarang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.