Room or simple studio outside the centre; mostly local groceries; public transport; limited nightlife.
Tbilisi cost of living · July 2026
What life in Tbilisi really costs.
A current GEL-first guide to rent, groceries, restaurants, transport, utilities, children and the first month—not a recycled “cheap city” headline.
JUNE 2026 CPI+5.8%
annual inflation in Georgia
NUMBEO SNAPSHOT1,721
price entries in 12 months
PUBLIC TRANSPORT₾1
standard 90-minute fare
1-BED OUTSIDE CENTRE₾1,163
reported monthly average
The honest version
There is no single
expat budget.
Rent is the swing factor. Numbeo’s 16 July snapshot puts a one-bedroom at about ₾1,834 in the centre and ₾1,163 outside it, but condition, heating, street, lease term and season can move the price substantially.
Georgia’s June annual inflation was 5.8%. Current reporting highlighted faster annual increases in fish, meat, fruit, bread and cooking oil. Someone buying imported food or heating a poorly insulated home can therefore feel more pressure than the national headline.
Wise estimates roughly £1,000 per month for one person in 2026. That is a useful international comparison, but your plan should be built in GEL from an actual apartment shortlist.
Four useful scenarios
Monthly budgets
with the assumptions visible.
These are TbilisiExpats.com planning models for July 2026. They include rent and routine living, but not tax, immigration services, flights, major medical treatment, car ownership or international-school tuition.
Good one-bedroom, mixed groceries, regular cafés and meals out, gym and taxi allowance.
One-bedroom shared, comfortable food and social budget, utilities and routine private healthcare allowance.
Two/three-bedroom home, family groceries, transport and activities. International-school tuition is extra.
Your largest line item
Rent, move-in cash
and seasonal bills.
Do not multiply an online average by twelve and call it a housing plan. Collect comparable live listings, inspect the building and ask for recent winter bills.
Apartment search checklist →Monthly rent · Numbeo July 2026AverageReported range
1 bedroom · centre₾1,834₾1,441–2,600
1 bedroom · outside centre₾1,163₾917–1,572
3 bedroom · centre₾3,396₾2,612–5,000
3 bedroom · outside centre₾2,299₾1,834–3,250
First-month cash: allow first rent, a commonly requested one-month deposit, possible agency commission, temporary accommodation and basic household purchases. Furnished is common, but “furnished” does not guarantee good heating, a desk, cookware or linen.
A real shopping list
July 2026 grocery
price basket.
Numbeo’s Tbilisi contributor snapshot, shown in GEL. The middle figure is its reported average; the range is more useful when comparing a bazaar, discount chain, premium supermarket and imported brand.
ItemReported rangeAverage
Milk · 1 litre₾4.00–7.00₾5.68
Fresh white bread · 454 g₾1.09–3.63₾1.81
Rice · 1 kg₾2.49–7.01₾4.37
Eggs · 12₾5.40–8.40₾7.22
Local cheese · 1 kg₾16.01–46.01₾24.27
Chicken fillets · 1 kg₾8.99–23.00₾17.53
Beef round · 1 kg₾25.00–39.99₾33.75
Apples · 1 kg₾2.01–6.00₾4.43
Bananas · 1 kg₾3.99–6.00₾4.61
Tomatoes · 1 kg₾3.00–11.99₾6.57
Potatoes · 1 kg₾0.99–3.99₾2.18
Mid-range wine · bottle₾12.00–30.00₾20.00
Local and seasonal wins. Produce at Dezerter Bazaar, Navtlugi and neighbourhood shops can beat premium-supermarket pricing. Compare quality and weight, not only shelf labels.
Imports change the maths. European cheese, specialist dietary products, sauces, alcohol and branded snacks can cost as much as—or more than—at home.
Official context. Georgia’s 2026 CPI basket contains 305 goods and services; food and non-alcoholic drinks carry a 33.6% weight. Your personal basket may look very different.
Eating out
From bakery lunch
to a proper evening out.
Menu price alone may not be the final bill. Check whether service is included, particularly at tourist-facing restaurants, and ask before ordering if the menu is unclear.
The costs people forget
Utilities, movement,
children and leisure.
Utilities & connection
Basic utilities, 85 m²: ₾232 average; ₾145–350 range
Home internet, 60+ Mbps: ₾50 average
Mobile plan, 10GB+: ₾34 average
Winter heating and summer cooling are property-specific. Poor insulation matters.Transport
One municipal journey: ₾1
Monthly pass: ₾40
Taxi start: ₾3 average
Petrol: ₾3.48/litre average
App taxis fluctuate with route, traffic and demand. A central address can reduce taxi spending.Fitness & entertainment
Gym membership: ₾173 average; ₾90–350 range
International cinema ticket: ₾18
Tennis court, weekend hour: ₾50
Coworking, nightlife and frequent delivery are lifestyle expenses—not harmless rounding.Childcare & school
Private full-day preschool: ₾955/month average
International primary school: ₾27,585/year average
Reported tuition range: ₾8,000–73,622/year
Obtain direct 2026/27 quotes, including registration, meals, transport, uniforms and activities.Cash-flow reality
Your first month
is not a normal month.
- Temporary stayGive yourself time to inspect homes rather than signing from airport photographs.
- Rent + depositOften two months of rent paid at signing; agent fee may be additional.
- SetupSIM, transport card, linen, kitchen basics, desk, adapters, delivery and small repairs.
- Professional needsTranslations, banking KYC, tax advice, permits or company work depend on your situation.
- ReserveKeep at least 10–15% for currency movement, seasonal bills and surprises.
Cost of living FAQ
Questions to answer
before you move.
Is Tbilisi still cheap in 2026?
It can still be good value compared with many European capitals, especially for public transport and local food. Rent, imported groceries, modern central apartments and international schooling are not automatically cheap.
How much does one person need each month?
For planning, use about ₾2,350–3,250 for a lean setup or ₾3,450–5,200 for a comfortable one-bedroom lifestyle. Your actual apartment shortlist is a better anchor than a citywide average.
What is normally required to move into a rental?
Commonly the first month plus a one-month deposit. An agent fee may apply. Verify the owner, contract, inventory, utility balances and the exact currency/payment rule before transferring money.
Are utilities expensive?
The July Numbeo snapshot averages about ₾232 for basic utilities in an 85 m² apartment, with a ₾145–350 reported range. Heating, insulation, air-conditioning use and apartment size matter; ask for winter bills.
Should I budget in USD, EUR or GEL?
Price day-to-day life in GEL because that is how most expenses are paid. If income is in another currency, keep a 10–15% exchange-rate and inflation buffer instead of relying on one conversion.
Does the family budget include international school?
No. Numbeo’s reported annual international-primary-school range is exceptionally wide—about ₾8,000 to ₾73,622 per child—so tuition must be quoted directly by the chosen school.
Turn the budget into a plan
Choose the home.
Connect the essentials.
Methodology · reviewed 17 July 2026
Market values use Numbeo’s Tbilisi page updated 16 July 2026 (1,721 entries from 155 contributors in the preceding 12 months). They are crowd-sourced indicators, not official tariffs or guaranteed quotes. Budget bands are our editorial models. Inflation context uses Geostat and current Interpressnews reporting; Wise is used as a comparison, not as the basis of our GEL budgets.