Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zărnești Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zărnești

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,006 in Zărnești, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,518 in Zărnești, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,029 in Zărnești, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 21% more than Zărnești, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Zărnești are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Zărnești 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.79
$8.44 RON 38.30
28.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$39.89 RON 181
10.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.98
$8.79 RON 39.88
-5.80%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.01
$2.28 RON 10.36
32.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$1.26 RON 5.70
-39.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$1.12 RON 5.08
-58.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.94
$2.23 RON 10.12
0.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.96
$2.79 RON 12.65
7.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.40 RON 6.36
37.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.18 RON 5.36
-38.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.88
$1.58 RON 7.17
16.46%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.49
$3.07 RON 13.94
-20.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.70
$8.74 RON 39.67
-14.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.19
$4.98 RON 22.63
30.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.74
$12.49 RON 56.7
-22.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.19
$0.99 RON 4.49
21.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.15
$1.37 RON 6.21
13.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.76
$1.39 RON 6.32
28.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.91
$1.40 RON 6.34
59.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.96 RON 4.34
-32.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.80
$0.91 RON 4.14
-25.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.80 RON 3.65
48.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.79 RON 3.58
-11.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.83
$5.90 RON 26.79
-50.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.44
$7.84 RON 35.60
-6.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.03
$1.03 RON 4.68
47.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.96
$1.41 RON 6.39
59.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.71 RON 3.21
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.74
$20.13 RON 91.4
-27.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.96 RON 4.34
56.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.93
$0.87 RON 3.96
-16.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.77
$7.20 RON 32.70
3.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.54 RON 7.01
-25.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$27.5K RON 124.7K
-32.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.7K
$28.3K RON 128.6K
-28.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$171 RON 778
-56.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.06
$8.33 RON 37.83
40.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.16
$10.08 RON 45.77
80.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾164
$42.12 RON 191
46.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.18
$18.98 RON 86.2
-12.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.53
$5.59 RON 25.37
18.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾701
$434 RON 1,970
-39.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$6,944 RON 31.5K
-25.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾199
$48.29 RON 219
55.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$30.48 RON 138
44.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$75.1 RON 341
56.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾302
$80.4 RON 365
41.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,836
$382 RON 1,736
80.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,204
$295 RON 1,339
53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,509
$584 RON 2,653
126.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,092
$438 RON 1,987
80.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,450
$2,063 RON 9,367
17.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,823
$1,374 RON 6,238
4.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,711
$518 RON 2,353
24.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
8.17
45.53%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Zărnești: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $382 in Zărnești. 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 24% 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 $40.00 in Zărnești. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $200 – making Zărnești 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 Zărnești: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Zărnești compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $1,006 in Zărnești – roughly 21% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Zărnești?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,509 in Zărnești. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Zărnești?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zărnești, 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 $40.00 in Zărnești. 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 Zărnești?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $1,006 in Zărnești. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zărnești, where all-in costs run around $1,006, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Zărnești 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 Zărnești?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,006 in Zărnești to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Zărnești 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 Zărnești?
If budget matters most, go with Zărnești. 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.

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