Cost of Living in Tbilisi 2026: A Real Expat’s Complete Breakdown

Everyone says Tbilisi is cheap. But how cheap, exactly, and compared to what? 🤔

I have lived in Tbilisi for five years. I have rented apartments in Saburtalo, Marjanishvili, and Sololaki. I know which supermarket has the best promotions, what a Bolt costs at rush hour, and how much my heating bill hurts in January. This is not a blog post built from research and exchange rate calculators. These are my actual numbers.

If you are considering moving to Tbilisi, relocating as a digital nomad, or just trying to figure out whether you can afford to live here comfortably, this guide will tell you exactly what to expect in 2026.

Cost of Living in Tbilisi: Quick Summary

This is where the biggest variation is, and where Tbilisi has changed the most in recent years.

When I first arrived, I was paying $250 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. That same apartment today would cost significantly more. Tbilisi has become increasingly popular with tourists, remote workers, and expats, and the rental market has responded accordingly.

In 2026, for a well-located two-bedroom apartment in a decent condition, you are looking at $700 to $800 per month. We have found good apartments at $650 but at that price you are accepting lower quality finishes or a less central location. Above $800 you start getting into the more polished, newly renovated category.

If you are visiting before committing to a long-term rental, I recommend booking a short-stay apartment first to test the neighborhood. 👉🏻 Booking.com has a strong selection of apartments in Tbilisi across all districts and price ranges, and it is what I use when we are between apartments or have guests visiting.

Matthieu and I change apartments every six months because we travel frequently and spend stretches of time in France and elsewhere, so we have rented in multiple neighborhoods across the city. Here is what I have learned about each:

Sololaki is my personal favourite and the neighborhood I recommend most. It is vibrant, walkable, and puts you within easy distance of the best cafes, restaurants, and grocery options in the city. The Carrefour in Orbeliani Bazar is a short walk away, there are babushkas selling fresh produce on almost every corner, and you can reach the Old Town, Rustaveli, and Marjanishvili on foot. The character of the neighborhood is genuinely special and increasingly hard to find as Tbilisi modernises.

Saburtalo (particularly around Shartava Street and the Technical University metro) is more residential and practical. Good transport connections, quieter streets, and slightly more affordable than Sololaki. A solid choice if you are here to work rather than to be in the middle of everything.

Marjanishvili sits between the two in terms of energy. Close to the river, good cafe and bar scene, and well connected by metro.

💡 Practical tip: Take your time finding an apartment. We always research the neighborhood before committing, checking proximity to a Carrefour, access to babushkas for fresh produce, and walking distance to a metro station. That research pays off in daily quality of life.

Groceries and Food Shopping

Our weekly grocery budget for two people eating healthily at home is around 300 GEL per week, or roughly 1,200 GEL per month.

Where to shop:

Carrefour is our gold standard, particularly the branch inside the Orbeliani Bazar. The promotions are genuinely good and they run them frequently. Get the member card, it is free and unlocks the discounted prices on promoted items. Without it you pay full price. This is the best supermarket in Tbilisi for both quality and value.

Goodwill is more expensive but more convenient if there is a branch nearby. I use it once or twice a week for quick top-up shops when I need something specific like chicken fillet and don’t want to travel to Carrefour. Good quality, just pricier.

Smart: Nobody goes there. Moving on.

The babushkas are worth a separate mention. These are the women, usually older, who sell vegetables and fresh produce from small stalls on street corners and in markets throughout the city. The produce is fresher, more seasonal, and more organic than anything in a supermarket, and it is cheaper too. Learning which babushka is near your apartment and building a regular relationship with her is one of the small pleasures of living in Tbilisi. It is also genuinely the best way to eat well here.

Agrohub is also worth mentioning for those who prioritise premium fresh produce and seafood. The quality is excellent and the selection is wider than a standard supermarket, with fresh seafood that is genuinely hard to find elsewhere in the city. It is slightly pricier than Carrefour and not conveniently located for everyone, but if you pass by it is absolutely worth stopping. We do not go out of our way for it as our regular shop, but when we are nearby we always leave with something.

Fresh bread deserves its own line. Georgian bakeries selling freshly baked puri (traditional Georgian bread) are everywhere, and a loaf costs almost nothing about 3GEL.

Eating Out

Tbilisi is an exceptional city for eating out affordably without sacrificing quality.

A full dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant like Khash Khash, with two dishes each and drinks, comes to around 120 GEL. At a more casual spot the same evening costs 80 to 100 GEL. At a higher-end restaurant like Rooms Kitchen or 47, budget 250 to 350 GEL for two with wine.

For quick everyday eating, a khachapuri from a Georgian pastry shop costs 7 to 10 GEL. At a sit-down restaurant the same khachapuri is 17 to 20 GEL. This is the most visible price gap between eating like a local and eating like a tourist in Tbilisi, and it is a meaningful one if you are watching your budget.

Coffee is the daily cost that adds up faster than people expect. A cappuccino at a specialty cafe like Baba costs 10 GEL. At a standard cafe, 6 to 8 GEL. Multiply that by two people daily and it is a real line item in the monthly budget. Worth every tetri, in my opinion, but worth being aware of.

My rough estimate for eating out as a couple in Tbilisi is 400 to 600 GEL per month at a comfortable frequency of dinners out two or three times per week and occasional lunches.

Transport

Tbilisi’s public transport is one of the most underrated aspects of living here. It is fast, frequent, and almost free.

Metro and bus: A single journey costs 1 GEL when you tap a credit card or a loaded transit card. If you register as a student and get a student debit card from Bank of Georgia, the same journey costs 20 tetri. I used this for five years while studying in Tbilisi and saved significantly. If you are a student here, get that card immediately.

The metro is the fastest way to move across the city, especially during rush hour when Tbilisi traffic can be genuinely terrible. Buses use a dedicated fast lane on main roads which makes them more reliable than they might look.

Bolt is the ride-hailing app everyone uses here. Within the central city, a ride costs up to 10 GEL. To further areas like Didi Dighomi, expect 15 to 20 GEL depending on the time of day and traffic. We use Bolt for evenings out or when carrying groceries, and the metro for daily movement around the city.

We do not own a car. Between Bolt and public transport, there is no need for one in the central districts.

Utilities

Utility costs in Tbilisi vary dramatically by season. Summer is cheap. Winter is where you feel it.

Winter monthly utilities (our most expensive month):

☀️ On summer AC: July and August in Tbilisi get genuinely hot, and if your apartment has air conditioning and you use it consistently, your electricity bill will rise significantly. If you are sensitive to heat, factor this into your budget and make sure to check whether the apartment has AC before signing anything.

❄️ On heating: Georgian winters are genuinely cold, especially in apartments with older construction. If your apartment has good insulation and double glazing, your heating costs will be manageable. If not, the gas bill reflects it. Always ask about heating before signing a lease.

Internet at 55 GEL per month is reliable and fast by any European standard. This is one of the genuine advantages of Tbilisi for remote workers.

Phone and SIM Card

I use Magticom, which has the best signal coverage across Georgia including outside Tbilisi. For 32 GEL per month you get unlimited mobile data. If you want calls and SMS on top of that, you add them separately: 60 minutes of calls costs 5 GEL, and 100 SMS costs 1 GEL.

The other main operators are Geocell and Beeline. For most expats and remote workers who primarily use data and messaging apps, the 32 GEL Magticom data plan is all you need.

Arriving in Georgia and need connectivity before you get a local SIM? An eSIM is the easiest solution, you activate it on your phone before you land and have data immediately on arrival. Airalo offers eSIM plans for Georgia starting from a few dollars, which is perfect for the first few days while you sort out a local plan.

Travel Insurance and Health Coverage

This is the section most expat guides skip, and they should not.

Georgia’s public healthcare system is improving but private healthcare is what most expats use for anything beyond minor issues. Private clinic visits start at around 50 to 100 GEL for a consultation, which is affordable, but for anything more serious, hospitalisation, surgery, emergency treatment, costs add up quickly without coverage.

If you are visiting Georgia or in the early stages of your move, Visitors Coverage offers flexible travel and expat health insurance plans that cover Georgia and can be purchased for any duration from a single trip to a full year. It is what I recommend to anyone asking me about healthcare as a foreigner in Tbilisi. Having coverage gives you access to Tbilisi’s best private hospitals without worrying about the bill.

Gym and Fitness

Gym costs in Tbilisi have a wide range depending on what you want.

Octopus is the premium option, large, well-equipped, multiple locations, full facilities. Expect to pay 300 to 350 GEL per month.

A good quality standard gym in a central neighborhood runs 200 to 220 GEL per month. The gym I used in Sololaki when it first opened was brand new and cost 120 GEL per month, though prices typically rise once a gym establishes itself.

If you are budget-conscious, there are smaller local gyms for 80 to 100 GEL per month. The equipment is more basic but entirely functional.

Entertainment and Lifestyle

Netflix and Amazon Prime both work normally in Georgia at their standard international subscription prices. No VPN needed for these.

Tbilisi has a genuinely excellent bar and cafe scene, good live music venues, and a growing arts calendar. Much of it is free or very affordable compared to European cities. A cinema ticket costs around 15 to 20 GEL. A glass of Georgian wine at a wine bar is 12 to 20 GEL.

Is Tbilisi Still Affordable in 2026?

Honestly, yes. But it is not as cheap as it was.

Rent in particular has risen significantly. The $250 one-bedroom apartment I rented when I first arrived is simply not available at that price anymore in a decent location. Increased tourism, the influx of remote workers and expats, and broader economic changes have pushed rental prices up considerably.

That said, the overall cost of living remains genuinely affordable compared to most European cities. The food, transport, utilities, and day-to-day spending are still very reasonable, and the quality of life you get for the money is excellent. Tbilisi rewards people who take the time to live like locals rather than tourists.

The 1% Tax Regime: Why Entrepreneurs Love Tbilisi

This section is for anyone considering Tbilisi as a base for remote work or running their own business.

Georgia has a small business tax regime that allows qualifying entrepreneurs to register a company and pay just 1% tax on turnover up to a certain threshold. For freelancers, digital nomads, and online business owners, this is extraordinary compared to almost any European country. It is one of the most significant financial reasons that Tbilisi has become a hub for location-independent workers, and it is worth researching seriously if this applies to your situation.

I would recommend speaking with a local accountant or lawyer to understand the current requirements and whether your business model qualifies, as the specifics matter and regulations can change.

Monthly Budget Breakdown: What to Expect

Planning your move to Tbilisi? Read my guide to the best neighborhoods in Tbilisi to find the right area for your lifestyle, and my complete Georgia travel guide to plan the rest of your trip.