Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Skien Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Skien

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,324 in Skien, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,259 in Skien, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,518 per month in Tbilisi vs $4,195 in Skien, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 49% cheaper than Skien, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Tbilisi sits 12% below the global median, while Skien is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09 ₾29.33
$29.05 NOK 283
-61.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24 ₾114
$102 NOK 994
-57.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ₾22.62
$13.49 NOK 131
-36.62%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.86
$4.85 NOK 47.25
-38.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.01
$2.43 NOK 23.68
-68.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$2.12 NOK 20.61
-78.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ₾5.87
$9.04 NOK 88.1
-75.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$9.54 NOK 93.0
-69.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₾5.21
$1.93 NOK 18.77
2.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.94
$3.29 NOK 32.03
-77.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.81
$3.16 NOK 30.77
-42.41%
Eggs
$2.49 ₾6.60
$4.33 NOK 42.22
-42.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.66 ₾20.26
$11.34 NOK 110
-32.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 ₾16.58
$14.30 NOK 139
-56.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.50 ₾25.12
$25.49 NOK 248
-62.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 ₾3.24
$3.67 NOK 35.77
-66.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.32
$2.35 NOK 22.84
-30.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.95
$3.26 NOK 31.76
-42.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₾6.01
$4.19 NOK 40.85
-45.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.77
$2.30 NOK 22.42
-70.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.78
$2.17 NOK 21.10
-69.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₾3.23
$3.00 NOK 29.20
-59.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.85
$1.84 NOK 17.91
-61.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$19.38 NOK 189
-84.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 ₾20.40
$15.85 NOK 154
-51.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.09
$3.15 NOK 30.65
-50.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₾5.86
$3.93 NOK 38.29
-43.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$2.65 NOK 25.78
-85.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.67 ₾38.78
$43.14 NOK 420
-65.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₾3.82
$34.76 NOK 339
-95.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$1.43 NOK 13.97
-51.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 ₾19.50
$102 NOK 998
-92.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.03
$2.12 NOK 20.61
-46.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾48.0K
$26.1K NOK 254.2K
-30.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₾54.1K
$36.0K NOK 350.8K
-43.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 ₾195
$96.3 NOK 938
-23.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.78
$37.27 NOK 363
-68.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63 ₾46.62
$37.31 NOK 363
-52.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 ₾162
$36.92 NOK 360
66.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85 ₾44.55
$35.83 NOK 349
-52.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 ₾17.69
$13.92 NOK 136
-51.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾698
$307 NOK 2,988
-13.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,169 ₾13.7K
$10.2K NOK 99.1K
-49.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1 ₾199
$40.16 NOK 391
87.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26 ₾114
$35.36 NOK 344
22.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾311
$89.6 NOK 873
31.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾295
$154 NOK 1,499
-27.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₾1,866
$975 NOK 9,500
-27.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,220
$973 NOK 9,480
-52.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 ₾3,486
$1,116 NOK 10.9K
18.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$781 ₾2,064
$921 NOK 8,968
-15.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 ₾6,512
$3,482 NOK 33.9K
-29.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 ₾3,725
$3,143 NOK 30.6K
-55.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$672 ₾1,778
$4,210 NOK 41.0K
-84.03%
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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Skien: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $706 in Tbilisi versus $975 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 526% 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 $102 in Skien. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $431 – 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 97%, 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 $1,767 per month in Tbilisi and $3,486 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 in Skien?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $102 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 and in Skien?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,178 in Tbilisi and $2,324 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 living in Tbilisi or in Skien?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,178, than in Skien at $2,324. 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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