😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $631 in Sibolga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $990 in Sibolga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $1,349 in Sibolga.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 103% more expensive than in Sibolga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi7% lower, Sibolga54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$1.67Rp 29.3K
584.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$13.83Rp 243.5K
175.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$3.25Rp 57.3K
189.23%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$1.51Rp 26.6K
123.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$0.42Rp 7,443
147.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.23Rp 4,046
160.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.28Rp 40.2K
18.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$3.50Rp 61.6K
-13.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.14Rp 20.0K
99.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$1.12Rp 19.7K
-29.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$0.82Rp 14.4K
97.56%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$1.45Rp 25.5K
88.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$7.20Rp 126.7K
29.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$3.05Rp 53.6K
122.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$7.78Rp 136.9K
67.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$2.31Rp 40.7K
-29.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.29Rp 22.7K
41.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.76Rp 31.0K
7.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.24Rp 21.8K
107.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$1.26Rp 22.2K
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.93Rp 34.0K
-66.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.74Rp 12.9K
83.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.44Rp 7,688
81.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$2.64Rp 46.5K
28.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$20.25Rp 356.5K
-62.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.85Rp 32.6K
-9.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$2.94Rp 51.8K
-19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.27Rp 4,721
44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$0.53Rp 9,260
115.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.33Rp 5,732
124.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$2.84Rp 50.0K
298.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$0.76Rp 13.4K
81.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$23.4KRp 411.5M
5.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$31.3KRp 551.8M
-29.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$69.5Rp 1.2M
27.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$4.48Rp 78.9K
194.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$19.05Rp 335.5K
3.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$20.58Rp 362.4K
231.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
$8.69Rp 153.0K
106.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$2.89Rp 50.9K
122.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$94.4Rp 1.7M
294.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$7,787Rp 137.1M
38.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$43.61Rp 767.8K
139.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$30.17Rp 531.2K
28.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$73.3Rp 1.3M
56.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$72.5Rp 1.3M
68.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$227Rp 4.0M
200.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$153Rp 2.7M
198.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$553Rp 9.7M
137.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$366Rp 6.4M
144.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$1,199Rp 21.1M
99.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$669Rp 11.8M
112.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sibolga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
9.46
33.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Sibolga: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $227 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $14.00 in Sibolga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 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 in Sibolga?
Tbilisi and Sibolga differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,279 vs $631 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 $1,919 in Tbilisi and $947 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: $681 in Tbilisi versus $227 in Sibolga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Sibolga?
Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $94.4 in Sibolga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sibolga – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $631 in Sibolga versus $1,279 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.