Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Tarija Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Tarija

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $760 in Tarija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $986 in Tarija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,213 in Tarija.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 59% more expensive than Tarija, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Tarija 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$3.65 BOB 25.05
195.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$14.33 BOB 98.3
201.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$6.21 BOB 42.63
33.49%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$2.39 BOB 16.36
25.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.47 BOB 10.09
-44.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.04 BOB 7.16
-55.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$1.57 BOB 10.80
42.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$2.21 BOB 15.15
32.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$0.76 BOB 5.23
153.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.37 BOB 9.41
-50.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$1.18 BOB 8.12
59.32%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$2.53 BOB 17.36
0.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$4.88 BOB 33.47
52.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$5.15 BOB 35.30
20.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$6.18 BOB 42.36
51.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.43 BOB 9.80
-14.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.34 BOB 9.21
23.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.06 BOB 7.26
69.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$2.19 BOB 15.04
2.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$1.47 BOB 10.12
-51.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.49 BOB 10.22
-55.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.33 BOB 2.25
257.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$1.33 BOB 9.16
-50.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$2.84 BOB 19.49
4.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$3.73 BOB 25.56
104.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.90 BOB 13.03
-18.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$1.95 BOB 13.39
15.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.30 BOB 2.07
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$31.10 BOB 213
-53.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$1.07 BOB 7.35
39.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$1.19 BOB 8.16
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$4.67 BOB 32.02
54.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$0.55 BOB 3.75
107.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$19.6K BOB 134.5K
-5.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$21.6K BOB 148.3K
-7.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$49.85 BOB 342
47.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$27.50 BOB 189
-57.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$42.07 BOB 289
-57.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$34.97 BOB 240
71.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$4.44 BOB 30.44
278.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$7.33 BOB 50.3
-9.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$62.2 BOB 427
328.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$1,306 BOB 8,956
297.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$25.15 BOB 173
208.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$29.52 BOB 203
51.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$40.55 BOB 278
188.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$21.89 BOB 150
415.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$326 BOB 2,237
112.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$226 BOB 1,548
104.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$513 BOB 3,519
157.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$115 BOB 790
572.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5.5
116.18%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tarija: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $326 in Tarija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $14.00 in Tarija for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $171 per month, with Tarija 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 Tarija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Tarija?
Tbilisi and Tarija differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $760 including rent). Tarija 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 Tarija?
You'd need roughly $1,813 in Tbilisi and $1,140 in Tarija 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 Tarija?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $326 in Tarija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Tarija – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $760 in Tarija versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tarija but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Tarija the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Tarija?
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 Tarija safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Tarija 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 Tarija?
Expats usually find Tarija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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