😐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 – Tbilisi10% lower, Semarang51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$1.80Rp 32.3K
500.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$12.32Rp 220.9K
250.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$3.69Rp 66.1K
124.66%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$1.50Rp 26.9K
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.52Rp 9,352
57.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.27Rp 4,833
70.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.99Rp 35.6K
12.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.01Rp 53.9K
-2.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.02Rp 18.4K
89.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.03Rp 18.5K
-33.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$0.80Rp 14.3K
135.00%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$1.52Rp 27.3K
67.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$6.11Rp 109.5K
21.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$2.93Rp 52.6K
111.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$8.73Rp 156.5K
7.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.59Rp 46.4K
-52.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.59Rp 28.6K
4.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.88Rp 33.7K
-4.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.58Rp 28.3K
41.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.30Rp 23.3K
-45.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.88Rp 33.8K
-64.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.91Rp 16.3K
29.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.41Rp 7,300
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.26Rp 40.5K
31.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$14.10Rp 252.7K
-46.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.58Rp 46.3K
-40.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.88Rp 51.5K
-21.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.26Rp 4,661
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$13.11Rp 234.9K
10.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$0.93Rp 16.7K
60.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.31Rp 5,634
119.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$2.88Rp 51.6K
151.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.86Rp 15.4K
32.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$24.5KRp 439.9M
-24.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$31.2KRp 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
$94.0Rp 1.7M
-21.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$2.74Rp 49.1K
324.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$23.89Rp 428.2K
-25.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$23.84Rp 427.4K
152.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$5.06Rp 90.6K
232.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$3.05Rp 54.6K
116.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$44.50Rp 797.7K
498.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$2,399Rp 43.0M
116.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$37.42Rp 670.8K
107.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$32.67Rp 585.6K
36.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$66.9Rp 1.2M
74.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$43.76Rp 784.5K
158.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$255Rp 4.6M
171.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$154Rp 2.8M
200.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$536Rp 9.6M
146.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$413Rp 7.4M
87.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$1,187Rp 21.3M
104.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$564Rp 10.1M
156.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$184Rp 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.