Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Surakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Surakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $660 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,001 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,343 in Surakarta, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 85% more than Surakarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Surakarta are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Surakarta 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$1.59 Rp 28.4K

582.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$12.17 Rp 218.1K

262.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

$3.10 Rp 55.6K

167.10%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$1.67 Rp 29.9K

80.84%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.56 Rp 10.1K

35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.27 Rp 4,841

70.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

22.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$2.99 Rp 53.6K

0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

67.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$0.84 Rp 15.0K

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

145.33%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$1.25 Rp 22.4K

96.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$9.01 Rp 161.5K

-17.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$2.87 Rp 51.5K

125.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$7.15 Rp 128.2K

35.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

-47.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.55 Rp 27.7K

0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$2.10 Rp 37.7K

-14.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$1.35 Rp 24.2K

65.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$1.36 Rp 24.4K

-52.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.64 Rp 29.4K

-58.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

85.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.43 Rp 7,642

62.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

34.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$8.04 Rp 144.1K

-8.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$1.84 Rp 32.9K

-17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

-31.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.42 Rp 7,500

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

$9.86 Rp 176.6K

48.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$0.44 Rp 7,921

240.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$0.31 Rp 5,622

135.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$2.80 Rp 50.1K

166.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

37.35%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$20.6K Rp 369.9M

-10.32%

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$34.9K Rp 625.7M

-42.01%

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

$73.9 ₾196

$84.6 Rp 1.5M

-12.70%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

$2.22 Rp 39.7K

427.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$19.39 Rp 347.4K

-6.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$19.74 Rp 353.7K

212.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

$6.01 Rp 107.7K

177.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

$2.21 Rp 39.7K

199.10%

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

$264 ₾700

$37.15 Rp 665.5K

611.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$2,032 Rp 36.4M

153.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$61.2 Rp 1.1M

22.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$38.27 Rp 685.7K

14.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

50.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

58.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$259 Rp 4.6M

167.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$157 Rp 2.8M

188.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$585 Rp 10.5M

126.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$328 Rp 5.9M

140.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

$158 Rp 2.8M

308.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

8.33

42.74%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $259 in Surakarta. 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 308% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $173 – making Surakarta 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 Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $660 in Surakarta – roughly 85% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $990 in Surakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $37.15 in Surakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Surakarta 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 $660 in Surakarta to $1,218 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 Surakarta. 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.