Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Semarang Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Semarang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $652 in Semarang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,022 in Semarang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,391 in Semarang, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 85% more than Semarang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Semarang are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Semarang 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.70
$1.80 Rp 32.3K
500.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$12.32 Rp 220.9K
250.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.03
$3.69 Rp 66.1K
124.66%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$0.52 Rp 9,352
57.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.27 Rp 4,833
70.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$1.99 Rp 35.6K
12.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$3.01 Rp 53.9K
-2.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.02 Rp 18.4K
89.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.03 Rp 18.5K
-33.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
135.00%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$1.52 Rp 27.3K
67.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$6.11 Rp 109.5K
21.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$2.93 Rp 52.6K
111.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$8.73 Rp 156.5K
7.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$2.59 Rp 46.4K
-52.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
4.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.88 Rp 33.7K
-4.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
41.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$1.30 Rp 23.3K
-45.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.88 Rp 33.8K
-64.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.91 Rp 16.3K
29.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.41 Rp 7,300
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$2.26 Rp 40.5K
31.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.21
$14.10 Rp 252.7K
-46.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$2.58 Rp 46.3K
-40.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$2.88 Rp 51.5K
-21.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.26 Rp 4,661
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.36
$13.11 Rp 234.9K
10.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
60.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.31 Rp 5,634
119.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$2.88 Rp 51.6K
151.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
32.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$24.5K Rp 439.9M
-24.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$31.2K Rp 558.6M
-35.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$94.0 Rp 1.7M
-21.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.91
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
324.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.39
$23.89 Rp 428.2K
-25.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$23.84 Rp 427.4K
152.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.63
$5.06 Rp 90.6K
232.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$3.05 Rp 54.6K
116.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$44.50 Rp 797.7K
498.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$2,399 Rp 43.0M
116.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$37.42 Rp 670.8K
107.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$32.67 Rp 585.6K
36.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$66.9 Rp 1.2M
74.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$43.76 Rp 784.5K
158.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$255 Rp 4.6M
171.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$154 Rp 2.8M
200.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,505
$536 Rp 9.6M
146.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$413 Rp 7.4M
87.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,455
$1,187 Rp 21.3M
104.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,840
$564 Rp 10.1M
156.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,787
$184 Rp 3.3M
266.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.83
51.85%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Semarang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $255 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 266% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $12.00 in Semarang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $190 – 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 85%, 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 $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $978 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 Semarang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $12.00 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 vs Semarang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $652 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 Tbilisi or Semarang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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.

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