Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,270 a month against $3,582 in Arlington, VA, rent and utilities included – about $27,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Arlington, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,582
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Arlington, VA and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Arlington, VA and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,582 per month in Arlington, VA vs $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Arlington, VA $3,582
  • Tbilisi $1,270

A couple spends around $5,415 per month in Arlington, VA vs $2,008 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Arlington, VA $5,415
  • Tbilisi $2,008

A family of three spends $7,249 per month in Arlington, VA vs $2,745 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Arlington, VA $7,249
  • Tbilisi $2,745

Arlington, VA costs about 182% more than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Arlington, VA sits 164% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.99 $23.99
$11.51 ₾29.79
108.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$38.27 ₾99.1
163.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.93 $10.93
$9.80 ₾25.36
11.53%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$3.55 ₾9.19
62.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.06 ₾2.74
181.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$0.62 ₾1.60
291.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.14 $8.14
$2.76 ₾7.16
194.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.81 $8.81
$3.00 ₾7.77
193.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$2.16 ₾5.59
-42.13%
White Bread (500g)
$4.39 $4.39
$0.76 ₾1.96
477.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$1.74 ₾4.51
199.43%
Eggs
$5.07 $5.07
$2.79 ₾7.21
81.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.53 $21.53
$9.20 ₾23.83
134.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$6.53 ₾16.89
140.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.56 $22.56
$12.81 ₾33.17
76.11%
Apples (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$1.67 ₾4.31
233.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.85 ₾4.79
1.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$1.98 ₾5.13
130.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$2.51 ₾6.49
129.08%
Potato (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$0.87 ₾2.26
274.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.73 ₾1.89
413.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.42 ₾3.67
59.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$0.72 ₾1.88
238.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.73 $9.73
$3.38 ₾8.74
187.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.20 $17.20
$7.84 ₾20.31
119.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.62 ₾4.19
74.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.38 ₾6.15
18.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 $2.74
$0.37 ₾0.96
640.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$121 $121
$15.52 ₾40.16
678.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.14 ₾2.94
244.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 $1.21
$0.79 ₾2.05
53.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.92 $24.92
$11.57 ₾29.96
115.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.50 ₾3.87
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$24.6K ₾63.7K
18.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$22.4K ₾57.9K
14.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 $162
$88.3 ₾228
83.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.5 $51.5
$13.08 ₾33.86
293.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$19.53 ₾50.6
215.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 $71.4
$64.2 ₾166
11.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 $19.14
$19.18 ₾49.66
-0.21%
Cinema Ticket
$16.58 $16.58
$6.99 ₾18.10
137.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,572 $1,572
$373 ₾966
321.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K $35.5K
$10.7K ₾27.7K
232.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$103 ₾266
-46.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 $62.2
$40.48 ₾105
53.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$116 ₾301
-10.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 $163
$122 ₾316
33.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,452 $2,452
$677 ₾1,753
262.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,010 $2,010
$454 ₾1,176
342.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,832 $4,832
$1,277 ₾3,305
278.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,600 $3,600
$890 ₾2,304
304.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,750 $5,750
$2,410 ₾6,238
138.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,742 $4,742
$1,418 ₾3,670
234.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arlington, VA
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,973 $6,973
$703 ₾1,819
892.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
12.62
-46.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Arlington, VA
$2K
Tbilisi
$454 77.4% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Arlington, VA
$504
Tbilisi
$233 53.8% $271
Eating Out
Arlington, VA
$374
Tbilisi
$191 49% $183
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, VA
$275
Tbilisi
$121 56% $154
Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, VA
$173
Tbilisi
$172 0.6% $1
Getting Around
Arlington, VA
$142
Tbilisi
$22 84.4% $120
Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, VA
$105
Tbilisi
$78 25.2% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,452 in Arlington, VA versus $677 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 892% higher in Arlington, VA, 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 $101 in Arlington, VA versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $504 vs $233 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Arlington, VA
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
13:45 1:45 PM
21:45 9:45 PM
8 h ahead of Arlington, VA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
365,438
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Arlington, VA Tbilisi 9,300 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Arlington, VA
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Arlington, VA vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arlington, VA or Tbilisi?
Arlington, VA costs about 182% more than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arlington, VA and in Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,373 per month in Arlington, VA and $1,906 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arlington, VA or Tbilisi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Arlington, VA or in Tbilisi?
Groceries cost about 117% more in Arlington, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Arlington, VA and in Tbilisi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Arlington, VA and $38.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Arlington, VA or in Tbilisi?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Arlington, VA at $3,582. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arlington, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arlington, VA or Tbilisi?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,270 versus $3,582 in Arlington, VA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Arlington, VA compared to Tbilisi?
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.
Should I move to Arlington, VA or to Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arlington, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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