Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Rustavi

For one person, living is cheaper in Rustavi: $854 a month against $1,646 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,646
/mo nomad
Rustavi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$854
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Rustavi

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Buenos Aires versus $854 in Rustavi.

  • Buenos Aires $1,646
  • Rustavi $854

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,680 in Buenos Aires versus $1,269 in Rustavi.

  • Buenos Aires $2,680
  • Rustavi $1,269

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,714 in Buenos Aires versus $1,683 in Rustavi.

  • Buenos Aires $3,714
  • Rustavi $1,683

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 93% more expensive than in Rustavi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buenos Aires is 21% above, Rustavi is 37% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.81 ARS 27.0K
$10.07 ₾26.07
76.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.2 ARS 98.9K
$30.77 ₾79.7
111.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.12 ARS 19.9K
$10.64 ₾27.55
23.31%
Cappuccino
$3.86 ARS 5,863
$2.01 ₾5.21
92.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ARS 3,133
$0.78 ₾2.02
164.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ARS 2,542
$0.55 ₾1.42
205.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.10 ARS 6,218
$1.27 ₾3.29
222.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73 ARS 7,181
$1.89 ₾4.89
150.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ARS 2,285
$1.80 ₾4.67
-16.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 ARS 3,950
$0.50 ₾1.30
420.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 ARS 2,380
$1.26 ₾3.27
24.60%
Eggs
$2.73 ARS 4,144
$2.36 ₾6.12
15.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.86 ARS 16.5K
$5.95 ₾15.40
82.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.07 ARS 15.3K
$4.78 ₾12.37
110.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ARS 20.1K
$10.16 ₾26.31
30.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.80 ARS 4,255
$0.99 ₾2.56
182.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 ARS 3,170
$1.61 ₾4.16
29.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,194
$1.49 ₾3.86
-2.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 ARS 3,040
$1.07 ₾2.78
86.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 ARS 1,826
$0.77 ₾1.99
55.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ARS 1,821
$0.66 ₾1.70
81.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 ARS 2,569
$1.24 ₾3.21
36.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ARS 2,711
$0.64 ₾1.66
179.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ARS 6,074
$3.08 ₾7.97
29.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.53 ARS 8,388
$3.90 ₾10.08
41.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 ARS 3,219
$1.54 ₾3.98
37.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ARS 4,212
$2.54 ₾6.58
9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 ARS 1,049
$0.34 ₾0.87
102.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.90 ARS 42.3K
$11.54 ₾29.87
141.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ARS 2,471
$0.75 ₾1.93
117.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ARS 1,478
$0.40 ₾1.04
142.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 ARS 12.0K
$3.90 ₾10.09
102.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,156
$1.27 ₾3.28
11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K ARS 35.4M
$22.9K ₾59.2K
2.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K ARS 48.5M
$9,677 ₾25.1K
230.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 ARS 302.7K
$76.7 ₾198
160.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.36 ARS 35.4K
$7.54 ₾19.53
209.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.44 ARS 47.7K
$11.60 ₾30.04
171.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.81 ARS 75.6K
$27.30 ₾70.7
82.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.63 ARS 25.2K
$19.67 ₾50.9
-15.46%
Cinema Ticket
$10.80 ARS 16.4K
$4.80 ₾12.43
125.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ARS 701.7K
$131 ₾338
254.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,790 ARS 13.3M
$2,654 ₾6,871
231.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.6K
$56.2 ₾145
113.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.6 ARS 143.6K
$40.68 ₾105
132.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ARS 176.4K
$94.9 ₾246
22.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 ARS 208.6K
$86.2 ₾223
59.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 ARS 1.1M
$272 ₾704
175.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 ARS 780.5K
$256 ₾664
100.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,567 ARS 2.4M
$467 ₾1,209
235.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 ARS 1.8M
$310 ₾802
285.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,632 ARS 4.0M
$1,038 ₾2,686
153.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,874 ARS 2.8M
$772 ₾1,999
142.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Rustavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$924 ARS 1.4M
$443 ₾1,147
108.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
13
340.38%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 19, 2026

Last update for Rustavi: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$514
Rustavi
$256 50.1% $258
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$285
Rustavi
$172 39.4% $112
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$273
Rustavi
$152 44.3% $121
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$254
Rustavi
$96 62.3% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Rustavi
$125 40.6% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Rustavi
$37 48.3% $35
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Rustavi
$16 57.9% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $750 in Buenos Aires and $272 in Rustavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 109% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Buenos Aires vs $31.00 in Rustavi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $172 per month, with Rustavi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇬🇪 Rustavi
🕒 Local time
09:24 9:24 AM
16:24 4:24 PM
7 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
132,333
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 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
  • Buenos Aires Rustavi 13,490 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Rustavi

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
Buenos Aires vs Rustavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Rustavi?
Buenos Aires and Rustavi differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $854 including rent). Rustavi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Buenos Aires or Rustavi?
Average pay runs 109% higher in Buenos Aires, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Rustavi?
Rent for a central apartment: $750 in Buenos Aires versus $272 in Rustavi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Rustavi?
Childcare runs $462 in Buenos Aires versus $131 in Rustavi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $854 in Rustavi versus $1,646 in Buenos Aires, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rustavi but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Rustavi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Rustavi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buenos Aires or Rustavi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Rustavi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Rustavi?
Expats usually find Rustavi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Buenos Aires vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?