Cost of Living in Tbilisi for a Family of 3 (Our Real 2026 Numbers)

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The cost of living in Tbilisi for our family of three is about $4,550 a month in 2026, or roughly 11,800 GEL. That covers rent in Vera, food, our son’s classes, insurance and everything else, but not our trips away. A family can live well here for much less, and we share three sample budgets further down.

We moved to Tbilisi in August 2024 after four years of full-time travel, and Georgia is now our home base. Our son is homeschooled, so a big part of our budget goes on his classes. I explain why we chose Georgia in our post on living in Tbilisi with kids. This post is the detailed version of our numbers: every category, everyday prices, rent by neighbourhood and what we’d tell a family planning the move.

A note on currency: we track our spending in US dollars, and our rent is paid in dollars. Prices in shops are in Georgian lari (GEL). We’ve converted using the National Bank of Georgia official rate for 23 October 2026: 1 USD = 2.5973 GEL. Figures are rounded.

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Cost of Living in Tbilisi: Our Monthly Budget at a Glance

This is what our family of three spends in a typical month at home in Tbilisi. It doesn't include our trips away from Georgia.

Expense	USD a month	GEL a month
Rent (2-bedroom, Vera)	$1,450	3,766 GEL
Groceries (including household and cleaning products)	$1,200	3,117 GEL
Educational activities (in person and online)	$1,017	2,641 GEL
Eating out	$400	1,039 GEL
House cleaner	$107	278 GEL
Subscriptions	$70	182 GEL
Medical and dental (including braces)	$60	156 GEL
Clothes	$50	130 GEL
Phones (2 lines, unlimited everything)	$35	91 GEL
Transport (mostly Bolt rides)	$30	78 GEL
Haircuts	$30	78 GEL
Gas (average across the year)	$25	65 GEL
Internet (higher-tier package)	$23	60 GEL
Health insurance (mandatory for foreigners)	$23	60 GEL
Household items	$20	52 GEL
Electricity	$8	21 GEL
Water	$2	5 GEL
Total	$4,550	11,818 GEL

A few things sit outside that monthly total:

• Travel within Georgia: about $1,000 a year (2,597 GEL), or roughly $83 a month. We count it with our trips rather than our living costs.
• A gym: we don't pay for one. We bought our own equipment once, for about $200 (519 GEL), and work out at home.
• Pets: we don't have any, so there are no pet costs here.

Rent, groceries and our son's activities make up more than 80% of the total. Those are the three places where a family's budget here can shrink or grow the most.

Is Tbilisi Still Cheap in 2026?

Our honest answer: Tbilisi is good value, but it isn't cheap anymore. Prices have risen a lot since we first started spending time here. Many older blog posts describe a city where a family could live on very little, and those numbers don't match what we pay today.

Utilities are a good example. Household electricity in Tbilisi went up by 5 tetri per kWh on 1 April 2026, according to the energy regulator's published tariffs. That still leaves electricity very cheap, but the direction is clear.

Compared with Western Europe or North America, we still get more for our money here. In our experience, we get a bigger, better-located apartment here than we could afford in most Western European cities. Fresh produce is good and affordable. Taxis are cheap enough to use every day. Comparing Tbilisi with Southeast Asia is a different story, so don't expect those prices.

Most cost of living sites don't help families much either. Wise's Tbilisi page, for example, estimates about $2,407 a month for a family of four, not including rent. Figures like that are broad averages, not real family budgets. They don't include school fees, kids' activities or the kind of apartment many foreign families end up renting. That gap is why we wanted to share our real numbers.

Rent in Tbilisi by Neighbourhood

Rent is the biggest single cost and the biggest variable. We pay $1,450 a month (3,766 GEL) for a fully furnished, 2-bedroom apartment of 130 square metres in Vera. That's a large apartment, which is part of why it costs what it does.

We found it through an agent, and the rent is quoted and paid in US dollars. We paid the first and last month upfront, and we don't pay any building fees.

Here's how we'd compare the main areas for something similar to ours. Apart from Vera, these are our own estimates from living here, not market data.

Area	2-bed range (our estimate)	Why families choose it
Vera (where we live)	$1,450 for our 130 sq m apartment (3,766 GEL)	Central, walkable, close to the old town, lots of cafés and restaurants
Vake	About the same as Vera, or more	Leafy, upmarket and popular with expat families
Sololaki	More than Vera	Historic streets and old Tbilisi charm, right in the centre
Old town	Much more than Vera	The most atmospheric area, but the priciest and busiest
Saburtalo	About $1,000 or less (2,597 GEL)	Newer buildings, malls and big supermarkets, very practical
Didi Dighomi, Isani, Ortachala	From about $700 (1,818 GEL)	Much cheaper, but further from the centre

We chose Vera because we like the area, our son's friend lives nearby and we can walk almost everywhere. That walkability also keeps our transport costs low. For how we search for rentals in a new city, see our guide to finding long-term accommodation that works for a family.

Utilities, Internet and Phones

Utilities are one of the cheapest parts of life in Tbilisi. Our electricity, gas and water come to about $35 a month (91 GEL) combined:

• Electricity: $8 a month (21 GEL)
• Gas: $25 a month (65 GEL), averaged across the year. Winter months cost more than summer ones.
• Water: $2 a month (5 GEL)

For reference, these are the official household electricity tariffs in Tbilisi since 1 April 2026, set by the national regulator GNERC (source):

• Up to 101 kWh a month: 20.041 tetri per kWh (about $0.08)
• 101 to 301 kWh: 24.053 tetri per kWh (about $0.09)
• Over 301 kWh: 28.537 tetri per kWh (about $0.11)

The household gas tariff has been frozen until 31 December 2026, so it's worth checking for changes if you're moving in 2027.

We use Magti for both home internet and our phones. Our higher-tier internet package costs $23 a month (60 GEL). Two phone lines with unlimited everything cost $35 a month (91 GEL). For the first few days after landing, an eSIM saves you hunting for a SIM shop.

Groceries and Everyday Prices in Tbilisi

Groceries are our second-biggest cost at $1,200 a month (3,117 GEL), including household and cleaning products. That's high for Tbilisi, and it's a choice. We buy most things through Wolt Market for convenience, and our fruit and vegetables from local produce shops. We buy meat at Blauenstein and chicken at Agro Eco Boutique. Both cost more than a regular supermarket, but we find the quality noticeably better.

A family shopping at ordinary supermarkets and markets could spend a lot less. These are prices we actually pay:

Item	GEL	USD
Milk (1 litre)	5.70 GEL	$2.19
Supermarket bread (loaf)	5 to 6 GEL	$1.93 to $2.31
Fresh sourdough from a bakery	8 to 9 GEL	$3.08 to $3.47
Eggs (10)	6 GEL	$2.31
Sulguni cheese (1 kg)	About 40 GEL	About $15.40
Khachapuri from a bakery	About 20 GEL	About $7.70
Inexpensive supermarket wine (bottle)	20 to 30 GEL	$7.70 to $11.55
Bottled water (1.5 litres)	1.25 GEL	$0.48
Apples (1 kg)	10 to 12 GEL	$3.85 to $4.62
Strawberries (500 g)	20 GEL	$7.70
Blueberries (400 g)	25 GEL	$9.63

Fruit prices swing a lot with the seasons, so treat the berry prices as a snapshot. Local, seasonal produce is where Tbilisi still feels like good value. Imported and specialty products are where costs climb.

Eating Out and Delivery

We spend about $400 a month (1,039 GEL) on eating out. That covers family meals out, coffees and food delivery. We mostly order through Wolt, which we also use for groceries.

Georgian food is one of our favourite things about living here. Simple places serving khachapuri, khinkali and salads are the best value. Trendier cafés and international restaurants in Vera and Vake cost more. If you cook most meals at home, as we do, eating out can stay a treat rather than a major expense.

Getting Around Tbilisi

We don't own a car, and we don't miss one. Our transport costs are about $30 a month (78 GEL), mostly short Bolt rides. Living in walkable Vera does a lot of the work.

Public transport is very cheap. These are the official fares from Tbilisi Transport Company for the metro, buses and minibuses:

• 90 minutes of unlimited travel: 1 GEL ($0.39), paid with a Metromoney card or a bank card
• 1 day: 3 GEL ($1.16)
• 1 month: 40 GEL ($15.40)
• 1 year: 250 GEL ($96.25)
• Metromoney card: 2 GEL

Passes need the subscription card. The Rike to Narikala cable car is separate, at 2.5 GEL one way. Tbilisi is hilly and pavements can be uneven, so a stroller can be hard work in older areas.

Kids' Activities and Education Costs

Our son's classes are our third-biggest cost, at about $1,017 a month (2,641 GEL). We spend more here on purpose. He's homeschooled, by his own preference, and these classes give him structure, teachers and friends. Monthly costs below are based on the real average of 4.33 weeks a month:

• Taekwondo: a private class twice a week that the whole family takes together, $38 a class for the three of us. About $329 a month.
• Robotics: private lessons twice a week at $19 a class. About $165 a month.
• Singing: a private lesson once a week at $30. About $130 a month.
• Swimming: a weekly group class at $17. About $74 a month.
• Online through Preply: maths twice a week (about $39 a month), Russian once a week (about $77 a month) and chess once a week (about $68 a month).
• Online private chess tutor: a second weekly chess class, $135 a month.

A family with one or two activities could easily spend a fraction of this.

International school fees in Tbilisi

We haven't looked at schools for our son, so we have no first-hand fees to share. Most international schools in Tbilisi don't publish their fees online, which makes comparing them harder. These are the most recent figures we could find from official sources:

• QSI International School of Tbilisi (American curriculum): QSI doesn't publish its fees online. The US State Department's 2026 fact sheet, based on figures the school supplied in April 2026 for the 2025 to 2026 school year, lists $6,200 a year for pre-kindergarten (about 16,100 GEL) and $24,900 a year for elementary, middle and high school (about 64,700 GEL). The older 2023 to 2024 fact sheet also listed a $3,200 annual capital fund fee and a one-time $300 registration fee. Ask the admissions office for 2026 to 2027 rates and any extra fees.
• British International School of Tbilisi (BIST): fees are shared on request through the school's admissions team at bist.ge.

For published fee ranges at more international schools in Tbilisi, see InternationalSchools.net's Georgia school fees page. Always confirm current fees directly with each school.

At those rates, a year at QSI would cost more than a year of our rent. School fees are the biggest difference between a homeschooling family's budget and a schooling family's budget here.

Healthcare and Health Insurance

Since 1 January 2026, foreigners entering Georgia must hold health and accident insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover (about $11,550). The policy can come from a Georgian or a foreign insurer, according to Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Our insurance costs $23 a month (60 GEL) for all three of us. We've compared the main options for families in our travel insurance guide for digital nomad families.

We use private clinics and a private dentist. Our medical and dental spending averages $60 a month (156 GEL), and that includes our son's braces. A dental check-up costs us 40 GEL ($15.40) for the visit alone. Private healthcare here is easy to access, and we've generally been able to use English or Russian with doctors.

Banking, Cards and Cash

We bank with TBC, and opening an account was easy. My husband only needed his passport and proof of address. I was asked for three months of bank statements and payslips as well, so bring both just in case. Requirements are set by each bank and can differ from person to person.

Day to day, we pay by card almost everywhere. TBC cards work with Google Pay on our phones. Cards are accepted pretty much everywhere, even at many stalls and street sellers. If a seller doesn't take cards, a bank transfer usually works once you have a Georgian account.

Because our rent is in US dollars and everything else is in lari, exchange rates affect our real costs. A stronger lari makes life here more expensive for anyone earning in dollars or euros.

Three Sample Family Budgets for Tbilisi

These are our own estimates for a family of three, based on what we spend and what we know about rents and prices here. They're a guide, not a promise.

Budget	Per month	What it looks like
Budget	$1,700 to $1,800 (4,415 to 4,675 GEL)	A cheaper apartment on the outskirts, public transport only, mostly cooking at home and eating cheap local food
Mid-range	$2,500 to $3,000 (6,493 to 7,792 GEL)	A decent 2-bedroom in an area like Saburtalo, regular supermarkets, some Bolt rides, meals out and one or two kids' activities
Comfortable (our level)	$4,000 or more (10,389 GEL or more)	A large, furnished central apartment, premium groceries, delivery, a cleaner and several private classes

How we got there: rent is the anchor. A budget family paying around $700 for a 2-bedroom has roughly $1,000 left for everything else. A mid-range family paying around $1,000 in Saburtalo has $1,500 to $2,000 for the rest. Our own spending of $4,550 sits at the comfortable end. None of these include school fees.

If you're weighing up Tbilisi against life on the road, our full-time family travel budget shows what a year of travelling cost us.

What We'd Tell a Family Moving to Tbilisi

• Keep online orders under 300 GEL. If an order shipped from abroad costs more than 300 GEL ($115.50), you'll pay import tax, and it's quite high. You'll also need to register a tax ID, and the parcel can take a long time to reach you.
• Budget for rent in dollars, plus two months upfront. We paid the first and last month when we signed.
• Choose your neighbourhood before your apartment. Living somewhere walkable saves time and money every day.
• Bring paperwork for the bank. Bank statements and payslips can make opening an account much smoother.
• Sort your health insurance before you fly. It's a legal requirement, and you'll want cover from day one.
• Check the rules for your passport. Our post on digital nomad visas for families covers Georgia and other options.

Still deciding where to settle? Our guide on how to choose a home base as a travelling family walks through what mattered most to us.

Tbilisi Cost of Living for Families: FAQ

Is Tbilisi expensive?

Not by Western European or North American standards, but it isn't as cheap as it used to be. Prices have risen noticeably in recent years. What you spend depends mostly on your rent, groceries and children's activities.

How much does a family need to live in Tbilisi?

We think a family of three can manage on $1,700 to $1,800 a month on a tight budget. Around $2,500 to $3,000 is a comfortable middle ground. Our own family spends about $4,550 a month.

How much is rent in Tbilisi?

From our experience, a 2-bedroom apartment ranges from about $700 in outer areas to $2,000 or more in central ones. We pay $1,450 for a large furnished apartment in Vera. Our rent is quoted and paid in US dollars.

Is the cost of living in Georgia going up in 2026?

Yes. Household electricity tariffs, for example, rose by 5 tetri per kWh in April 2026. The household gas tariff is fixed until the end of 2026.

Do foreigners need health insurance in Georgia?

Yes. Since 1 January 2026, foreigners entering Georgia need health and accident insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover. Ours costs $23 a month for three people.

Can foreigners open a bank account in Tbilisi?

Yes. We opened accounts at TBC without residency. One of us needed only a passport and proof of address, while the other also needed three months of bank statements and payslips.

How much are international schools in Tbilisi?

Most schools share fees on request. The latest official figure we found for QSI was $24,000 a year for kindergarten to grade 12 in 2023 to 2024, plus extra fees.

Final Thoughts on the Cost of Living in Tbilisi

Tbilisi isn't the bargain it once was, but for our family it still offers a lot for the money. We live in a big, central apartment, eat well and give our son the classes he loves. We spend about $4,550 a month to do it, and a family could live comfortably here on much less.

For the bigger picture of life here, read why we chose Tbilisi as our home base. If you're visiting first, our 10-day Georgia itinerary with kids and our Kazbegi day trip from Tbilisi are good places to start.