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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $939 per month in Zalau vs $1,178 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,397 per month in Zalau vs $1,848 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Zalau vs $2,518 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Zalau is about 20% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zalau and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Zalau 30% lower, Tbilisi 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.83 RON 35.27

$11.09 ₾29.35

-29.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.66 RON 156

$43.24 ₾114

-19.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 RON 26.41

$8.55 ₾22.63

-31.46%

Cappuccino

$2.12 RON 9.56

$2.97 ₾7.86

-28.62%

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

$1.98 RON 8.90

$0.76 ₾2.01

160.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RON 7.72

$0.46 ₾1.22

271.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 RON 12.21

$2.22 ₾5.88

22.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 RON 12.09

$2.92 ₾7.73

-8.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 RON 6.73

$1.97 ₾5.21

-24.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 RON 5.42

$0.73 ₾1.94

64.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 RON 6.35

$1.82 ₾4.81

-22.53%

Eggs

$2.24 RON 10.10

$2.49 ₾6.60

-10.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 RON 35.76

$7.66 ₾20.27

3.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.98 RON 26.95

$6.27 ₾16.59

-4.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 RON 40.11

$9.50 ₾25.14

-6.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 RON 4.06

$1.23 ₾3.24

-26.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 RON 6.91

$1.64 ₾4.33

-6.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 RON 7.05

$1.87 ₾4.95

-16.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 RON 9.48

$2.27 ₾6.02

-7.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 RON 3.02

$0.67 ₾1.77

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.24

$0.67 ₾1.79

7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 RON 2.99

$1.22 ₾3.23

-45.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.11

$0.70 ₾1.85

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.51 RON 24.80

$2.92 ₾7.73

88.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 RON 24.67

$7.72 ₾20.42

-29.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 RON 4.48

$1.55 ₾4.09

-35.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 RON 5.60

$2.22 ₾5.86

-44.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 RON 4.22

$0.39 ₾1.02

141.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.72 RON 88.8

$14.67 ₾38.81

34.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 RON 3.96

$1.44 ₾3.82

-38.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 RON 3.78

$0.69 ₾1.81

21.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.19 RON 41.37

$7.37 ₾19.52

24.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.36

$1.14 ₾3.03

42.98%

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

$27.5K RON 124.0K

$18.2K ₾48.1K

51.61%

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

$26.1K RON 117.7K

$20.4K ₾54.1K

27.83%

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

$142 RON 640

$73.6 ₾195

92.91%

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

$4.59 RON 20.66

$11.64 ₾30.80

-60.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.80 RON 30.62

$17.63 ₾46.65

-61.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.90 RON 162

$61.4 ₾162

-41.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.91 RON 85.2

$16.85 ₾44.59

12.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.66 RON 25.48

$6.69 ₾17.71

-15.40%

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

$425 RON 1,916

$264 ₾699

61.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,992 RON 31.5K

$5,169 ₾13.7K

35.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 RON 258

$75.1 ₾199

-23.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.69 RON 174

$43.26 ₾114

-10.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 RON 290

$118 ₾311

-45.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 RON 314

$111 ₾295

-37.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 RON 1,758

$706 ₾1,868

-44.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 RON 1,323

$461 ₾1,221

-36.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 RON 2,660

$1,318 ₾3,488

-55.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 RON 1,986

$781 ₾2,066

-43.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 RON 8,625

$2,463 ₾6,517

-22.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,405 RON 6,329

$1,409 ₾3,727

-0.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$650 RON 2,926

$672 ₾1,779

-3.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.89

-45.33%

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

Last update for Zalau: June 15, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $390 in Zalau versus $706 in Tbilisi. 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 3% 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 $35.00 in Zalau versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $206 – 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

Zalau vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $939 in Zalau, $1,178 in Tbilisi – roughly 25% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Zalau and $1,767 in Tbilisi. 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 $35.00 in Zalau and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $939 in Zalau and $1,178 in Tbilisi. 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 $939, than in Tbilisi at $1,178. 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 $939 in Zalau to $1,178 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.