Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $688 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,205 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,722 in Surabaya, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 87% more than Surabaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.55

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

606.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.8

$11.40 Rp 201.0K

232.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.41

$3.24 Rp 57.2K

200.62%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.90

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

118.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₾2.76

$0.56 Rp 9,841

89.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.26 Rp 4,572

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.05

$2.25 Rp 39.6K

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.08

$4.37 Rp 77.0K

-29.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.73

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

81.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

-39.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

90.70%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.18

$1.21 Rp 21.2K

127.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.50

$7.80 Rp 137.5K

15.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.09

$2.96 Rp 52.2K

121.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.91

$7.87 Rp 138.8K

60.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$2.02 Rp 35.7K

-17.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

$1.33 Rp 23.4K

36.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.03

$1.87 Rp 32.9K

3.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$1.52 Rp 26.9K

70.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

-36.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.68

$1.93 Rp 34.0K

-66.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

43.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$0.40 Rp 7,050

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

71.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.66

$25.35 Rp 447.0K

-70.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$1.71 Rp 30.1K

-5.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

$2.89 Rp 50.9K

-22.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.36 Rp 6,271

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.05

$0.47 Rp 8,334

148.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

$0.47 Rp 8,293

70.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.55

$2.70 Rp 47.7K

319.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

66.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K ₾65.2K

$24.7K Rp 435.5M

1.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K ₾58.4K

$33.1K Rp 583.3M

-32.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.1 ₾232

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

0.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.25 ₾34.55

$4.83 Rp 85.2K

174.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

$19.84 Rp 349.7K

-1.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾178

$18.57 Rp 327.4K

268.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.73

$6.54 Rp 115.3K

185.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.30

$2.65 Rp 46.7K

150.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$363 ₾948

$286 Rp 5.0M

27.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$9,694 Rp 170.9M

9.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

$71.2 Rp 1.3M

45.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

$39.47 Rp 695.8K

-1.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

43.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

$74.9 Rp 1.3M

63.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,780

$290 Rp 5.1M

135.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,165

$150 Rp 2.6M

198.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,349

$1,276 Rp 22.5M

0.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,399

$618 Rp 10.9M

48.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,486

$2,231 Rp 39.3M

11.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,711

$1,073 Rp 18.9M

32.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,684

$277 Rp 4.9M

132.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

7.5

69.73%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $290 in Surabaya. 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 133% higher in Tbilisi, 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 $11.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $211 – making Surabaya 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 Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $688 in Surabaya – roughly 87% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $1,032 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,286 in Tbilisi and $688 in Surabaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Tbilisi and $286 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Surabaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $688 in Surabaya to $1,286 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.