😐A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $949 in Zărnești, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,486 in Zărnești, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,022 in Zărnești, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 35% more than Zărnești, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Zărnești are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi7% lower, Zărnești31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.75
$9.10RON 41.08
25.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.3
$44.58RON 201
-14.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.47
$8.83RON 39.86
6.46%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$2.32RON 10.50
45.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.54RON 6.95
-32.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$1.26RON 5.68
-52.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.00RON 9.04
35.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.91
$2.45RON 11.07
24.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.30RON 5.85
74.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$1.12RON 5.08
-29.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.22
$1.48RON 6.69
9.46%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.14
$2.98RON 13.43
-8.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.21
$8.42RON 38.02
10.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.66
$4.96RON 22.41
36.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.87
$10.64RON 48.04
22.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.28
$1.01RON 4.55
62.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.33RON 6.02
37.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.31RON 5.89
45.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.69
$1.32RON 5.95
94.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$0.80RON 3.61
5.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.53RON 2.40
22.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.55
$0.90RON 4.07
51.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.74RON 3.34
8.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.86
$5.59RON 25.23
-39.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.96
$7.82RON 35.32
-1.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.37
$1.09RON 4.94
54.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.19
$1.36RON 6.12
75.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.73RON 3.30
-46.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.48
$22.44RON 101
-30.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$0.93RON 4.20
22.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.85RON 3.84
-12.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.45
$7.76RON 35.03
45.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.51RON 6.80
-8.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾64.0K
$29.5KRON 133.0K
-16.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$27.2KRON 122.7K
-19.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$106RON 481
-16.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.29
$9.87RON 44.57
33.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$8.57RON 38.68
129.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾178
$39.96RON 180
70.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.70
$21.97RON 99.2
-18.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.72
$6.72RON 30.33
-4.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾968
$454RON 2,051
-18.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$8,146RON 36.8K
32.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$46.24RON 209
125.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$28.75RON 130
35.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$70.9RON 320
61.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$80.8RON 365
51.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,772
$397RON 1,792
71.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$312RON 1,410
45.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,413
$651RON 2,939
101.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,323
$534RON 2,411
67.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,222
$1,993RON 9,000
19.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,708
$1,386RON 6,258
2.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Zărnești
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,665
$526RON 2,375
21.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
7.47
68.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Zărnești: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $397 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 22% 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 $45.00 in Zărnești. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Tbilisi vs $189 in Zărnești – so Zărnești 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 Zărnești: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Zărnești compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $949 in Zărnești – roughly 35% 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 $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,424 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi and $45.00 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 $1,279 in Tbilisi and $949 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 $949, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. 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 $949 in Zărnești to $1,279 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.