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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $652 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $991 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,330 in Surakarta, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 83% more than Surakarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Surakarta are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Surakarta 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

627.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$12.08 Rp 218.0K

257.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

$3.05 Rp 55.1K

179.67%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$1.72 Rp 31.1K

73.84%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.60 Rp 10.9K

35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.25 Rp 4,483

68.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

20.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$2.89 Rp 52.1K

-0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

60.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$0.87 Rp 15.8K

-21.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$0.76 Rp 13.7K

143.42%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$1.25 Rp 22.5K

102.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

$9.35 Rp 168.8K

-19.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$2.86 Rp 51.7K

118.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$7.32 Rp 132.2K

31.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.30 Rp 41.6K

-49.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.47 Rp 26.6K

11.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$2.11 Rp 38.2K

-10.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

65.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

-46.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$1.68 Rp 30.2K

-61.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

84.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.45 Rp 8,158

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$2.17 Rp 39.2K

36.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$8.23 Rp 148.6K

-9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.83 Rp 33.0K

-15.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$3.22 Rp 58.1K

-29.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.45 Rp 8,102

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

$10.09 Rp 182.2K

45.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$0.47 Rp 8,523

202.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$0.31 Rp 5,597

122.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$2.78 Rp 50.3K

161.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

31.33%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

$21.1K Rp 380.8M

-13.14%

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

$35.3K Rp 636.5M

-41.91%

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

$74.4 ₾195

$84.1 Rp 1.5M

-11.54%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$2.23 Rp 40.2K

425.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$19.64 Rp 354.5K

-10.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$20.09 Rp 362.6K

200.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

$6.13 Rp 110.7K

165.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

$2.09 Rp 37.8K

211.48%

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

$269 ₾704

$36.76 Rp 663.6K

632.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

$2,073 Rp 37.4M

148.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

22.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

$38.17 Rp 689.1K

13.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

$77.1 Rp 1.4M

53.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

54.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$261 Rp 4.7M

171.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$160 Rp 2.9M

189.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$594 Rp 10.7M

121.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$338 Rp 6.1M

126.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$158 Rp 2.9M

319.54%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $261 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 320% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $176 – 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: $1,191 in Tbilisi, $652 in Surakarta – roughly 83% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $978 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 $269 per month in Tbilisi and $36.76 in Surakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $652, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. 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 $652 in Surakarta to $1,191 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.