Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zalau Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zalau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $913 in Zalau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,404 in Zalau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,895 in Zalau, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Zalau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Zalau are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Zalau 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$7.72 RON 35.38

46.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$36.12 RON 165

7.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$5.63 RON 25.81

69.09%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.37 RON 10.85

43.88%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$1.54 RON 7.03

-32.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$1.30 RON 5.97

-50.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.97 RON 9.03

32.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$2.41 RON 11.03

34.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.41 RON 6.47

53.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.13 RON 5.18

-34.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.35 RON 6.19

26.67%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.08 RON 9.51

36.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.94

$8.53 RON 39.07

8.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$6.01 RON 27.52

12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.16

$10.67 RON 48.88

19.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$0.93 RON 4.25

76.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.40 RON 6.42

26.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.53 RON 7.02

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.89 RON 8.67

29.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.68 RON 3.11

27.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.56 RON 2.59

16.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.63

$0.64 RON 2.95

118.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.79 RON 3.63

-6.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$5.17 RON 23.68

-34.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$5.40 RON 24.76

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.13 RON 5.18

50.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.19

$1.25 RON 5.74

90.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.85 RON 3.90

-57.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.59

$22.91 RON 105

-33.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.85 RON 3.88

38.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.93 RON 4.28

-18.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$8.13 RON 37.24

39.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.61 RON 7.36

-17.39%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$29.9K RON 137.1K

-17.40%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$27.3K RON 125.0K

-19.26%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$108 RON 493

-17.40%

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

$13.33 ₾34.62

$4.47 RON 20.49

198.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$6.77 RON 31.00

197.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$34.58 RON 158

98.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾46.99

$21.01 RON 96.2

-13.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$5.56 RON 25.48

20.86%

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

$374 ₾970

$456 RON 2,088

-18.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$7,261 RON 33.3K

47.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$55.2 RON 253

83.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$31.04 RON 142

26.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$60.1 RON 275

95.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$67.7 RON 310

80.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,772

$408 RON 1,869

67.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$297 RON 1,361

53.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

$626 RON 2,866

108.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,336

$479 RON 2,193

87.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,363

$1,934 RON 8,859

26.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

$1,430 RON 6,549

1.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,694

$645 RON 2,952

1.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

6.85

84.23%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Zalau: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $408 in Zalau. 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 1% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $36.00 in Zalau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $190 – making Zalau 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 Zalau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi, $913 in Zalau – roughly 37% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,369 in Zalau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zalau, 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi and $36.00 in Zalau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $913 in Zalau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zalau, where all-in costs run around $913, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Zalau 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 $913 in Zalau to $1,247 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 Zalau. 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.