Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Tema Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Tema

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $776 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,229 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,682 in Tema, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 65% more than Tema, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Tema are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Tema 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$7.06 GHS 80.6

61.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$28.37 GHS 324

34.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$5.36 GHS 61.2

-36.94%

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

$1.04 ₾2.70

$0.91 GHS 10.43

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.29 GHS 3.28

106.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$3.29 GHS 37.60

-17.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$2.68 GHS 30.61

13.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$3.29 GHS 37.53

-31.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$1.62 GHS 18.49

-51.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$2.08 GHS 23.70

-22.12%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$2.46 GHS 28.09

11.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$4.32 GHS 49.38

115.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$3.39 GHS 38.74

100.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$3.64 GHS 41.54

257.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$2.61 GHS 29.77

-37.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$2.25 GHS 25.64

-18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$2.24 GHS 25.54

-15.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$3.53 GHS 40.36

-27.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$3.60 GHS 41.07

-76.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$2.96 GHS 33.84

-78.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$0.46 GHS 5.23

195.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.73 GHS 8.37

9.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$1.34 GHS 15.31

153.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$9.05 GHS 103

-15.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$2.15 GHS 24.60

-21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$3.02 GHS 34.51

-21.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$1.82 GHS 20.79

-78.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$43.17 GHS 493

-63.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$2.16 GHS 24.67

-47.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.43 GHS 4.91

72.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.17 GHS 13.35

17.95%

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

$24.6K ₾63.9K

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

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

$88.7 ₾231

$78.6 GHS 897

12.93%

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

$13.18 ₾34.26

$15.52 GHS 177

-15.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$84.3 GHS 963

-76.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$24.78 GHS 283

175.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$8.72 GHS 99.5

-26.38%

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

$372 ₾967

$177 GHS 2,022

110.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$2,633 GHS 30.1K

310.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$13.25 GHS 151

688.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$16.17 GHS 185

140.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$44.66 GHS 510

157.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$33.62 GHS 384

263.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$131 GHS 1,493

420.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$74.7 GHS 853

509.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$449 GHS 5,132

191.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$219 GHS 2,496

308.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$10.1K GHS 114.8K

-76.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$5,994 GHS 68.4K

-76.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$433 GHS 4,947

47.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

-63.94%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Tema: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $131 in Tema. 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 48% 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $28.00 in Tema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $223 – making Tema 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 Tema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $776 in Tema – roughly 65% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,165 in Tema. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $28.00 in Tema. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $776 in Tema. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tema, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Tema 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 $776 in Tema to $1,279 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 Tema. 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.