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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,346 in Skien, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,033 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,345 in Skien, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,787 per month in Tbilisi vs $4,343 in Skien, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 45% cheaper than Skien, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 7% below the global median, while Skien is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68 ₾30.42
$21.26 NOK 199
-45.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.79 ₾98.4
$106 NOK 990
-64.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.34 ₾24.31
$16.12 NOK 151
-42.06%
Cappuccino
$3.45 ₾9.00
$5.24 NOK 48.94
-34.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.84
$4.08 NOK 38.15
-73.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₾1.55
$3.06 NOK 28.59
-80.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 ₾7.35
$11.85 NOK 111
-76.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ₾9.71
$12.51 NOK 117
-70.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ₾5.71
$2.04 NOK 19.09
7.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$3.86 NOK 36.06
-80.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.29
$4.43 NOK 41.38
-62.75%
Eggs
$2.76 ₾7.20
$5.79 NOK 54.1
-52.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 ₾25.09
$13.01 NOK 121
-25.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 ₾17.94
$15.87 NOK 148
-56.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 ₾34.23
$22.19 NOK 207
-40.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.46
$3.40 NOK 31.78
-49.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.49
$2.74 NOK 25.60
-37.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.87
$3.43 NOK 31.99
-45.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ₾6.49
$6.03 NOK 56.3
-58.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ₾2.11
$2.40 NOK 22.44
-66.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$2.88 NOK 26.91
-77.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$3.08 NOK 28.74
-55.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₾1.94
$2.40 NOK 22.45
-68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.75
$18.79 NOK 175
-82.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.81 ₾20.34
$15.79 NOK 147
-50.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₾4.34
$3.48 NOK 32.47
-52.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₾6.10
$4.26 NOK 39.74
-45.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$3.36 NOK 31.34
-88.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.56 ₾40.52
$47.66 NOK 445
-67.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.97
$11.32 NOK 106
-89.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$1.81 NOK 16.92
-56.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.51 ₾29.97
$69.5 NOK 649
-83.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$2.22 NOK 20.74
-40.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.7K
$49.2K NOK 459.0K
-49.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ₾57.8K
$43.2K NOK 403.2K
-48.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 ₾235
$97.0 NOK 906
-6.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.19 ₾34.35
$32.34 NOK 302
-59.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73 ₾51.4
$54.2 NOK 506
-63.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.3 ₾173
$41.64 NOK 389
59.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.64 ₾51.1
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾17.53
$15.37 NOK 144
-56.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$356 ₾928
$269 NOK 2,514
32.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.6K
$15.7K NOK 146.3K
-32.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$63.0 NOK 588
60.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62 ₾103
$61.4 NOK 573
-35.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$91.7 NOK 856
25.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾314
$162 NOK 1,512
-25.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,830
$1,064 NOK 9,940
-33.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,173
$992 NOK 9,261
-54.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 ₾3,321
$1,045 NOK 9,760
22.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 ₾2,320
$938 NOK 8,758
-5.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,587
$3,549 NOK 33.1K
-28.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,466 ₾3,818
$3,216 NOK 30.0K
-54.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Skien
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$651 ₾1,696
$4,273 NOK 39.9K
-84.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
4.37
191.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: August 16, 2026

Last update for Skien: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Tbilisi versus $1,064 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 556% 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $106 in Skien. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $474 – 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 83%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $3,519 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi and $106 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 $1,279 in Tbilisi and $2,346 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 $1,279, than in Skien at $2,346. 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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