Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and VanCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Van
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $894 in Van, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,332 in Van, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,770 in Van, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 36% more than Van, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Van are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Van34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.79
$6.53₺301
66.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$17.71₺816
149.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.98
$7.53₺347
9.96%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.01
$2.84₺131
6.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.91₺41.82
-16.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.24₺10.99
91.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.94
$4.24₺196
-47.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.96
$3.74₺173
-19.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.05₺48.43
83.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.73₺33.64
-1.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.88
$2.30₺106
-20.00%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.49
$1.85₺85.4
32.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.70
$9.63₺444
-22.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.19
$5.60₺258
15.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.74
$16.34₺753
-40.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.19
$1.06₺48.69
13.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.15
$2.18₺100
-28.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.76
$1.10₺50.9
62.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.91
$0.85₺39.28
162.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.70₺32.21
-7.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.80
$0.59₺27.24
15.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.87₺39.97
36.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.52₺24.16
34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.83
$2.07₺95.2
42.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.44
$10.69₺493
-31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.03
$2.13₺98.4
-28.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.96
$2.58₺119
-12.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.45₺20.59
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.74
$48.34₺2,229
-69.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.56₺72.0
-3.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.93
$0.66₺30.26
10.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.77
$8.76₺404
-14.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.21₺55.6
-5.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$40.4K₺1.9M
-54.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.7K
$41.7K₺1.9M
-51.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$95.1₺4,383
-22.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.06
$10.32₺476
13.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.16
$8.84₺407
105.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾164
$30.31₺1,397
103.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.53
$3.10₺143
113.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾701
$615₺28.4K
-57.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$7,710₺355.5K
-33.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾199
$69.8₺3,218
7.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$30.04₺1,385
46.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$87.2₺4,020
34.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾302
$50.4₺2,325
125.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,836
$323₺14.9K
114.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,204
$226₺10.4K
101.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,509
$544₺25.1K
143.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,092
$380₺17.5K
107.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,450
$1,455₺67.1K
67.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,823
$825₺38.0K
74.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Van
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,711
$551₺25.4K
17.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
36.83
-67.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Van: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $323 in Van. 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 17% 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 $18.00 in Van. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $218 in Van – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Van: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Van compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $894 in Van – roughly 36% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Van?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,340 in Van. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Van?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Van, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $18.00 in Van. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Van?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $894 in Van. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Van, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Van it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Van?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $894 in Van to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Van safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Van?
If budget matters most, go with Van. 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.