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