Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Skien Cost 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
$29.22 NOK 272
-61.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$99.4 NOK 927
-56.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$13.13 NOK 122
-37.40%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$5.07 NOK 47.28
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$2.46 NOK 22.90
-69.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$2.13 NOK 19.84
-78.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$9.03 NOK 84.2
-76.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$9.86 NOK 91.9
-69.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.98 NOK 18.47
-4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$3.27 NOK 30.51
-77.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$3.33 NOK 31.01
-44.44%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$4.18 NOK 38.96
-41.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$11.58 NOK 108
-32.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$14.10 NOK 131
-55.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$25.25 NOK 235
-61.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$3.82 NOK 35.64
-68.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$2.26 NOK 21.07
-29.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$3.29 NOK 30.62
-45.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$4.01 NOK 37.35
-42.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$2.21 NOK 20.60
-67.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$2.20 NOK 20.55
-69.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$2.95 NOK 27.49
-60.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$1.93 NOK 17.95
-63.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$19.18 NOK 179
-84.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$14.76 NOK 138
-50.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$3.15 NOK 29.35
-50.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$4.06 NOK 37.83
-43.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$2.71 NOK 25.24
-85.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$43.16 NOK 402
-65.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$35.99 NOK 335
-95.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.45 NOK 13.55
-52.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$100 NOK 935
-92.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$2.09 NOK 19.48
-44.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$25.9K NOK 241.1K
-30.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$36.0K NOK 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
$98.0 NOK 913
-25.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$38.70 NOK 361
-69.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$38.65 NOK 360
-54.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$37.82 NOK 352
60.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$35.86 NOK 334
-54.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$14.27 NOK 133
-54.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$310 NOK 2,893
-15.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$10.0K NOK 93.2K
-48.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$39.78 NOK 371
95.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$36.01 NOK 336
23.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$92.0 NOK 857
27.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$151 NOK 1,411
-24.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$956 NOK 8,910
-27.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$976 NOK 9,093
-52.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,132 NOK 10.6K
18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$897 NOK 8,364
-13.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$3,521 NOK 32.8K
-28.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$3,211 NOK 29.9K
-55.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$4,335 NOK 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.

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