🇬🇪 Tbilisi vs 🇦🇱 Tirana
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Tbilisi is 8% cheaper than Tirana
Quick answer
Comparing Tbilisi, Georgia and Tirana, Albania: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,443 in Tbilisi versus $1,577 in Tirana. Tbilisi is roughly 8% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $760/mo (Tbilisi) vs $829/mo (Tirana). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,443/mo in Tbilisi single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,577/mo in Tirana single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $760/mo in Tbilisi · $829/mo in Tirana.
- Cheaper overall: Tbilisi ~8% cheaper than Tirana.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,000/mo | $1,100/mo | +10% |
| Moderate | $1,443/mo | $1,577/mo | +9% |
| Comfortable | $2,150/mo | $2,350/mo | +9% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $760/mo | $829/mo | +9% |
| Groceries & Food | $210/mo | $230/mo | +10% |
| Dining Out | $105/mo | $115/mo | +10% |
| Transport | $105/mo | $115/mo | +10% |
| Utilities & Internet | $105/mo | $115/mo | +10% |
| Healthcare | $84/mo | $92/mo | +10% |
| Leisure & Personal | $74/mo | $81/mo | +9% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Tbilisi
$760
Tirana
$829
Groceries & Food
Tbilisi
$210
Tirana
$230
Dining Out
Tbilisi
$105
Tirana
$115
Transport
Tbilisi
$105
Tirana
$115
Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$105
Tirana
$115
Healthcare
Tbilisi
$84
Tirana
$92
Leisure & Personal
Tbilisi
$74
Tirana
$81
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: GeoStat, World Bank / INSTAT (Albania), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | +9% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | +20% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $4 | $4 | +8% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | -18% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khachapuri + salad (local restaurant) | $4 | $5 | +14% |
| Fast food combo meal | $6 | $5 | -11% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $1 | -45% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $2 | $2 | +5% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $1 | $1 | -9% |
Housing
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $760 | $450 | -41% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $444 | $280 | -37% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $800 | $800 | 0% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $500 | $500 | 0% |
Transport
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (Metro + bus) | $15 | $20 | +33% |
| Taxi start | $1 | $2 | +36% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $50 | $70 | +40% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $12 | $15 | +25% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $25 | $25 | 0% |
| Cinema ticket | $6 | $5 | -9% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi | 🇦🇱 Tirana | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $6 | $5 | -9% |
Quick Facts
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,443
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $760/mo
- Cappuccino
- $3.44
- Inexpensive meal
- $9.55
- Monthly transit pass
- $15
- Internet speed
- 55 Mbps
- Safety index
- 72/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 69/100
- Country
- Georgia
🇦🇱 Tirana
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,577
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $829/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.34
- Inexpensive meal
- $9.90
- Monthly transit pass
- $20
- Internet speed
- 50 Mbps
- Safety index
- 68/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 86/100
- Country
- Albania
Explore more: Tbilisi city guide | Tirana city guide | Georgia | Albania
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi or Tirana cheaper to live in?
Tbilisi is approximately 8% cheaper than Tirana overall.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Tbilisi is approximately $1,443 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Tirana per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Tirana is approximately $1,577 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Tirana?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $760/month in Tbilisi and $829/month in Tirana.