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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 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 – Tbilisi 7% lower, Zărnești 31% lower.

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

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities