😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $591 in Sibolga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $944 in Sibolga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,296 in Sibolga.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 102% more expensive than in Sibolga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Sibolga56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.57
$1.55Rp 28.1K
603.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$12.22Rp 221.0K
253.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.32
$3.48Rp 62.8K
145.11%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.82
$1.67Rp 30.2K
79.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$0.51Rp 9,310
58.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.28Rp 5,116
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.66
$3.11Rp 56.2K
-30.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.53
$2.65Rp 48.0K
8.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.22Rp 22.1K
59.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.18Rp 21.4K
-42.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$0.93Rp 16.7K
98.92%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.63
$1.59Rp 28.7K
59.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.70
$8.33Rp 150.5K
-9.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.40
$2.27Rp 41.1K
175.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.10
$9.10Rp 164.5K
5.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$2.30Rp 41.5K
-49.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.51Rp 27.3K
8.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.89Rp 34.2K
-0.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.49Rp 27.0K
49.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.71Rp 12.9K
-1.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.53Rp 27.6K
-58.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.10
$0.91Rp 16.4K
29.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.35Rp 6,344
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.79
$1.73Rp 31.2K
71.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.46
$23.19Rp 419.3K
-67.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$2.31Rp 41.8K
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$2.33Rp 42.1K
-2.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.41Rp 7,393
-12.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.56
$9.68Rp 175.0K
52.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$0.53Rp 9,606
167.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.37Rp 6,764
86.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$2.86Rp 51.8K
154.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.06Rp 19.2K
2.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾48.0K
$24.7KRp 446.1M
-25.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$27.3KRp 492.8M
-24.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$26.79Rp 484.5K
177.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.65
$4.22Rp 76.3K
177.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.08
$22.81Rp 412.5K
-22.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$23.00Rp 415.9K
162.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.65
$6.08Rp 110.0K
167.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$3.09Rp 55.9K
110.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$24.11Rp 436.0K
1016.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$7,603Rp 137.5M
-32.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$15.45Rp 279.3K
399.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$18.19Rp 328.8K
139.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$66.2Rp 1.2M
78.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$74.7Rp 1.4M
51.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,857
$260Rp 4.7M
172.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,216
$159Rp 2.9M
191.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,444
$583Rp 10.5M
125.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$332Rp 6.0M
131.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,525
$1,293Rp 23.4M
92.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,775
$622Rp 11.2M
131.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
-
-
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Sibolga: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $260 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $12.00 in Sibolga. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $209, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 in Sibolga?
Tbilisi and Sibolga differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $591 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 $1,787 in Tbilisi and $887 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 in Sibolga?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $260 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 $43.00 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 $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $591 in Sibolga – a 102% 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 $591 in Sibolga versus $1,191 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 102% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.