😐A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $644 in Semarang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,036 in Semarang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,429 in Semarang, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 86% more than Semarang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Semarang are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Semarang52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$1.79Rp 32.1K
504.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$12.50Rp 224.6K
250.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$3.64Rp 65.4K
128.30%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.46Rp 26.2K
103.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.48Rp 8,703
60.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.27Rp 4,829
70.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.01Rp 36.1K
6.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.89Rp 51.9K
-0.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.07Rp 19.3K
77.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.00Rp 18.0K
-29.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$0.86Rp 15.4K
122.09%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.59Rp 28.5K
55.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$6.13Rp 110.1K
26.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$2.82Rp 50.6K
119.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$8.48Rp 152.4K
12.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.60Rp 46.6K
-55.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.60Rp 28.7K
3.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.95Rp 35.1K
-5.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.57Rp 28.2K
48.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.23Rp 22.2K
-42.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.86Rp 33.4K
-63.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.87Rp 15.6K
36.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.40Rp 7,269
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.29Rp 41.2K
27.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$13.53Rp 243.1K
-43.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.56Rp 46.0K
-37.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.83Rp 50.8K
-18.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.26Rp 4,710
46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$12.96Rp 232.9K
13.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.87Rp 15.7K
72.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.31Rp 5,572
119.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$2.87Rp 51.5K
152.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.80Rp 14.4K
36.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$24.8KRp 445.4M
-24.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$30.4KRp 546.4M
-32.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$92.7Rp 1.7M
-21.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$2.75Rp 49.3K
335.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$23.45Rp 421.5K
-23.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$23.69Rp 425.7K
157.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$5.24Rp 94.1K
215.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$3.05Rp 54.8K
119.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$44.58Rp 801.1K
502.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$2,388Rp 42.9M
115.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$36.26Rp 651.6K
111.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$32.31Rp 580.6K
34.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$67.1Rp 1.2M
79.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$43.45Rp 780.8K
154.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$255Rp 4.6M
170.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$152Rp 2.7M
209.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$544Rp 9.8M
148.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$419Rp 7.5M
88.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$1,179Rp 21.2M
109.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$545Rp 9.8M
167.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Semarang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$189Rp 3.4M
249.21%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Semarang: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $687 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 249% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $12.00 in Semarang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $188 – 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 86%, 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $966 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 $44.00 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 and in Semarang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $644 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 $644, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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.