😐A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $870 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,321 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,772 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 40% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Sveti Nikole35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$5.58MKD 296
94.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$28.19MKD 1,496
56.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$4.96MKD 263
66.94%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$1.66MKD 87.9
81.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.61MKD 85.5
-52.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$1.23MKD 65.4
-62.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.21MKD 117
1.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.67MKD 142
12.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.30MKD 69.0
48.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.72MKD 38.26
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.68MKD 89.2
9.52%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$2.11MKD 112
16.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$8.58MKD 455
-13.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$6.47MKD 343
0.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$13.82MKD 733
-29.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$1.02MKD 54.3
17.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.39MKD 73.8
12.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.31MKD 69.3
36.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.57MKD 83.3
42.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.89MKD 47.37
-26.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$0.93MKD 49.58
-26.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.64MKD 33.99
85.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.58MKD 30.61
20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$3.02MKD 160
-2.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$6.53MKD 346
12.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$0.94MKD 50.0
61.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$1.46MKD 77.6
54.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.65MKD 34.34
-44.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$20.02MKD 1,062
-27.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.27MKD 67.6
18.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.52MKD 27.64
40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$6.69MKD 355
11.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.43MKD 75.7
-20.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
-41.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$29.4KMKD 1.6M
-31.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$145MKD 7,688
-49.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$17.51MKD 929
-33.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$15.52MKD 823
17.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$26.81MKD 1,422
130.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$4.82MKD 256
37.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$222MKD 11.8K
19.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$1,180MKD 62.6K
336.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$76.3MKD 4,046
-1.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$38.98MKD 2,069
12.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$76.3MKD 4,046
54.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$112MKD 5,952
1.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$284MKD 15.1K
143.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$195MKD 10.3K
132.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$573MKD 30.4K
130.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$309MKD 16.4K
154.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$1,656MKD 87.9K
46.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$1,311MKD 69.6K
9.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$567MKD 30.1K
13.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.54
161.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Sveti Nikole: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $284 in Sveti Nikole. 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 14% 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 $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $196 – making Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Sveti Nikole?
Tbilisi costs about 40% more than Sveti Nikole, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Sveti Nikole?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,304 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Sveti Nikole?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sveti Nikole, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Sveti Nikole?
Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $222 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Sveti Nikole?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Sveti Nikole?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sveti Nikole, where all-in costs run around $870, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Sveti Nikole it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Sveti Nikole?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sveti Nikole costs $870 versus $1,218 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Sveti Nikole?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or Sveti Nikole?
If budget matters most, go with Sveti Nikole. 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.