😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $600 in Sibolga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $943 in Sibolga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,285 in Sibolga.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 103% more expensive than Sibolga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Sibolga55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$1.52Rp 27.3K
613.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$12.25Rp 219.4K
260.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$3.34Rp 59.8K
147.90%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$1.70Rp 30.5K
77.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.55Rp 9,781
38.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.26Rp 4,610
76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$3.02Rp 54.0K
-25.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.60Rp 46.5K
15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.17Rp 20.9K
64.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.12Rp 20.0K
-35.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$0.92Rp 16.5K
100.00%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.58Rp 28.4K
55.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$7.94Rp 142.2K
-6.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$2.32Rp 41.5K
179.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$9.04Rp 162.0K
7.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-48.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.45Rp 26.0K
7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.86Rp 33.3K
-3.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.49Rp 26.7K
49.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.71Rp 12.7K
-8.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.53Rp 27.5K
-55.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.91Rp 16.3K
30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.33Rp 5,840
112.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$1.79Rp 32.1K
64.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$18.67Rp 334.5K
-60.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$2.27Rp 40.7K
-33.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$2.24Rp 40.1K
0.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.45Rp 8,016
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$9.91Rp 177.6K
47.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$0.57Rp 10.2K
163.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.38Rp 6,764
92.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$2.86Rp 51.3K
160.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.02Rp 18.3K
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$24.5KRp 439.2M
-24.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$27.6KRp 495.0M
-26.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$26.42Rp 473.3K
179.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$4.27Rp 76.4K
174.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$22.51Rp 403.2K
-19.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$23.14Rp 414.5K
166.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$6.33Rp 113.5K
163.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$3.14Rp 56.2K
110.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$24.08Rp 431.5K
997.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$7,714Rp 138.2M
-33.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$15.47Rp 277.2K
383.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$18.47Rp 330.9K
138.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$65.7Rp 1.2M
79.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$73.9Rp 1.3M
53.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$261Rp 4.7M
165.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$156Rp 2.8M
191.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$593Rp 10.6M
123.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$335Rp 6.0M
135.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$1,315Rp 23.6M
84.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$764Rp 13.7M
88.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.15
29.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Sibolga: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $261 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $12.00 in Sibolga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $196 per month, with Sibolga 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 Sibolga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Sibolga?
Tbilisi and Sibolga differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $600 including rent). Sibolga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Sibolga?
You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $901 in Sibolga 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 Sibolga?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $261 in Sibolga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sibolga – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Sibolga?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $600 in Sibolga – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $600 in Sibolga versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sibolga but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sibolga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Sibolga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Sibolga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sibolga 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 Sibolga?
Expats usually find Sibolga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.