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: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $747 in Tarija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $985 in Tarija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,224 in Tarija.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 60% more expensive than in Tarija, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Tarija 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$3.59 BOB 38.60
201.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$14.28 BOB 153
207.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$6.31 BOB 67.8
31.70%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.48 BOB 26.63
19.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$1.48 BOB 15.93
-47.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$1.00 BOB 10.74
-54.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$1.56 BOB 16.72
37.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$2.24 BOB 24.13
28.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$0.77 BOB 8.30
146.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.43 BOB 15.36
-50.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$1.18 BOB 12.64
61.86%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$2.58 BOB 27.76
-3.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$4.83 BOB 51.9
60.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$5.20 BOB 55.9
18.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$6.34 BOB 68.2
50.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$1.49 BOB 16.05
-21.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$1.28 BOB 13.72
28.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.11 BOB 11.97
66.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$2.23 BOB 23.93
4.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.49 BOB 16.03
-52.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$1.43 BOB 15.41
-53.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.35 BOB 3.80
240.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$1.33 BOB 14.34
-50.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$2.84 BOB 30.52
2.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$3.70 BOB 39.81
107.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.90 BOB 20.40
-16.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.89 BOB 20.29
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.28 BOB 2.97
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$31.22 BOB 336
-52.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$1.07 BOB 11.47
40.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.19 BOB 12.78
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$4.85 BOB 52.1
49.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$0.51 BOB 5.49
113.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$19.6K BOB 211.0K
-5.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$21.6K BOB 231.7K
-5.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$51.2 BOB 550
42.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$27.84 BOB 299
-57.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$42.31 BOB 455
-57.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$35.41 BOB 381
72.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$4.43 BOB 47.65
272.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$7.38 BOB 79.3
-9.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$60.8 BOB 654
341.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$1,327 BOB 14.3K
288.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$25.34 BOB 272
201.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$29.21 BOB 314
48.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$39.55 BOB 425
204.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$21.81 BOB 234
406.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$320 BOB 3,441
114.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$226 BOB 2,428
108.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$514 BOB 5,528
163.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$116 BOB 1,242
582.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Tarija
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
-
-
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tarija: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $320 in Tarija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $14.00 in Tarija for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $173 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 in Tarija?
Tbilisi and Tarija differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $747 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 $1,796 in Tbilisi and $1,121 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 in Tarija?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $320 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 $44.00 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 $747 in Tarija versus $1,197 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 60% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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