Cost of Living Comparison Between Zalau and TbilisiCost of Living Comparison Between Zalau and Tbilisi
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $957 per month in Zalau vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,441 per month in Zalau vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,924 per month in Zalau vs $2,522 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 – Zalau28% lower, Tbilisi11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03RON 36.50
$10.91₾28.56
-26.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.03RON 159
$43.19₾113
-18.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.82RON 26.47
$8.53₾22.31
-31.77%
Cappuccino
$2.12RON 9.62
$2.99₾7.81
-29.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01RON 9.13
$0.81₾2.12
148.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71RON 7.79
$0.42₾1.09
307.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68RON 12.17
$2.16₾5.65
24.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78RON 12.64
$2.88₾7.52
-3.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51RON 6.85
$1.94₾5.08
-22.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26RON 5.72
$0.68₾1.77
85.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.37
$1.85₾4.83
-24.32%
Eggs
$2.19RON 9.94
$2.53₾6.62
-13.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.01RON 36.41
$7.53₾19.69
6.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01RON 27.33
$6.26₾16.39
-3.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.00RON 40.91
$9.59₾25.09
-6.15%
Apples(1kg)
$0.88RON 4.00
$1.16₾3.04
-24.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.87
$1.64₾4.29
-7.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.37
$1.88₾4.93
-13.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21RON 10.06
$2.23₾5.84
-0.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71RON 3.23
$0.70₾1.83
1.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71RON 3.23
$0.64₾1.68
10.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.23
$1.18₾3.09
-39.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93RON 4.22
$0.70₾1.83
32.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43RON 24.68
$2.97₾7.78
82.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54RON 25.19
$7.43₾19.45
-25.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RON 4.71
$1.54₾4.03
-32.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.86
$2.28₾5.98
-43.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96RON 4.38
$0.36₾0.93
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.10RON 91.4
$14.73₾38.54
36.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90RON 4.09
$1.42₾3.71
-36.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RON 3.90
$0.69₾1.81
24.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.30RON 42.26
$7.27₾19.02
27.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59RON 7.23
$1.09₾2.86
45.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KRON 128.0K
$18.3K₾47.9K
53.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KRON 121.9K
$20.5K₾53.6K
30.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142RON 647
$74.4₾195
91.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.51RON 20.52
$11.71₾30.63
-61.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.74RON 30.65
$17.60₾46.06
-61.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.23RON 165
$60.3₾158
-39.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.94RON 86.1
$16.29₾42.63
16.27%
Cinema Ticket
$5.88RON 26.74
$6.51₾17.03
-9.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$432RON 1,965
$269₾704
60.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,001RON 31.8K
$5,154₾13.5K
35.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0RON 259
$77.1₾202
-26.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.70RON 176
$43.48₾114
-10.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.1RON 291
$118₾310
-45.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1RON 319
$113₾295
-37.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392RON 1,783
$709₾1,856
-44.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294RON 1,337
$465₾1,215
-36.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587RON 2,668
$1,316₾3,442
-55.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$430RON 1,957
$767₾2,007
-43.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,919RON 8,724
$2,492₾6,522
-23.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,388RON 6,311
$1,442₾3,773
-3.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zalau
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633RON 2,876
$663₾1,735
-4.58%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Zalau versus $709 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 5% 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: $190 vs $204 – 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
How do living costs in Zalau and in Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Zalau, $1,191 in Tbilisi – roughly 24% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Zalau compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Zalau and $1,787 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Zalau and Tbilisi?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Zalau or Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $957 in Zalau and $1,191 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zalau, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Zalau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Zalau and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $957 in Zalau to $1,191 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Zalau or Tbilisi 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 Zalau and Tbilisi?
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.