Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and SkienCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Skien
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,263 in Skien, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,199 in Skien, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $4,135 in Skien, rent included.
🙂Tbilisi is about 48% cheaper than Skien, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Tbilisi sits 12% below the global median, while Skien is 69% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$29.22NOK 272
-61.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$99.4NOK 927
-56.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$13.13NOK 122
-37.40%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$5.07NOK 47.28
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$2.46NOK 22.90
-69.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$2.13NOK 19.84
-78.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$9.03NOK 84.2
-76.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$9.86NOK 91.9
-69.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.98NOK 18.47
-4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$3.27NOK 30.51
-77.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$3.33NOK 31.01
-44.44%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$4.18NOK 38.96
-41.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$11.58NOK 108
-32.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$14.10NOK 131
-55.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$25.25NOK 235
-61.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$3.82NOK 35.64
-68.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.26NOK 21.07
-29.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$3.29NOK 30.62
-45.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$4.01NOK 37.35
-42.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$2.21NOK 20.60
-67.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$2.20NOK 20.55
-69.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$2.95NOK 27.49
-60.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.93NOK 17.95
-63.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$19.18NOK 179
-84.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$14.76NOK 138
-50.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$3.15NOK 29.35
-50.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$4.06NOK 37.83
-43.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$2.71NOK 25.24
-85.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$43.16NOK 402
-65.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$35.99NOK 335
-95.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.45NOK 13.55
-52.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$100NOK 935
-92.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$2.09NOK 19.48
-44.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$25.9KNOK 241.1K
-30.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$36.0KNOK 335.2K
-44.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$98.0NOK 913
-25.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$38.70NOK 361
-69.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$38.65NOK 360
-54.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$37.82NOK 352
60.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$35.86NOK 334
-54.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$14.27NOK 133
-54.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$310NOK 2,893
-15.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$10.0KNOK 93.2K
-48.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$39.78NOK 371
95.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$36.01NOK 336
23.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$92.0NOK 857
27.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$151NOK 1,411
-24.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$956NOK 8,910
-27.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$976NOK 9,093
-52.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$1,132NOK 10.6K
18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$897NOK 8,364
-13.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$3,521NOK 32.8K
-28.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$3,211NOK 29.9K
-55.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$4,335NOK 40.4K
-85.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.8
212.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Skien: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $956 in Skien. 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 585% higher in Skien, 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 $99.0 in Skien. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $429 – making Tbilisi 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 Skien: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skien cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Skien is pricier by about 91%, 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 $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $3,394 in Skien. 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 Tbilisi, 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 Skien?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $99.0 in Skien. 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 Skien?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,185 in Tbilisi and $2,263 in Skien. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Skien?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,185, than in Skien at $2,263. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skien it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Skien more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – 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 Skien?
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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skien makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.