Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Song Be Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Song Be

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $748 in Song Be.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,168 in Song Be.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,588 in Song Be.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 63% more expensive than Song Be, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Song Be 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$2.03 ₫53.2K
434.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$22.81 ₫598.7K
93.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$4.66 ₫122.4K
77.68%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$1.71 ₫44.9K
76.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.48 ₫12.6K
58.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.30 ₫7,946
53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$1.05 ₫27.4K
113.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$1.54 ₫40.5K
94.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.52 ₫39.9K
26.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.02 ₫26.7K
-29.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$0.95 ₫24.8K
93.68%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.47 ₫38.6K
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$11.84 ₫310.8K
-37.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$3.62 ₫95.1K
79.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$10.52 ₫276.0K
-7.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$2.69 ₫70.6K
-55.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.12 ₫29.3K
39.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.34 ₫35.3K
33.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$1.13 ₫29.7K
97.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$1.11 ₫29.1K
-41.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$1.18 ₫30.9K
-42.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.76 ₫19.9K
56.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.47 ₫12.3K
48.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$1.22 ₫32.1K
141.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$12.70 ₫333.5K
-42.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$0.86 ₫22.5K
76.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.49 ₫39.2K
51.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.32 ₫8,380
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$6.61 ₫173.6K
120.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.66 ₫17.4K
127.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.69 ₫18.1K
5.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$2.99 ₫78.4K
149.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$0.81 ₫21.3K
40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$36.9K ₫969.4M
-49.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$33.7K ₫884.5M
-39.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$82.9 ₫2.2M
-10.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$5.74 ₫150.7K
104.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$9.11 ₫239.1K
99.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$21.30 ₫559.2K
189.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$7.57 ₫198.6K
120.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$4.13 ₫108.5K
60.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$277 ₫7.3M
-4.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$13.7K ₫359.8M
-62.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$42.47 ₫1.1M
76.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$26.68 ₫700.2K
64.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$95.8 ₫2.5M
22.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$85.4 ₫2.2M
33.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$357 ₫9.4M
93.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$245 ₫6.4M
85.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$671 ₫17.6M
97.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$460 ₫12.1M
71.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$3,304 ₫86.7M
-26.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$1,384 ₫36.3M
4.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Song Be
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
9.14
30.09%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Song Be: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $357 in Song Be. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $23.00 in Song Be for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $198 per month, with Song Be cheaper across the board.

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 Song Be: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Song Be?
Tbilisi and Song Be differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $748 including rent). Song Be is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Song Be?
You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $1,122 in Song Be to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Song Be?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $357 in Song Be. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Song Be?
A monthly transit pass in Song Be runs roughly 121% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Song Be?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $277 in Song Be. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $748 in Song Be versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Song Be but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Song Be the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Song Be?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Song Be safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Song Be are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Song Be?
Expats usually find Song Be gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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