😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,355 in Cardiff versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,357 in Cardiff versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,359 in Cardiff versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Cardiff is roughly 97% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cardiff is 76% above, Tbilisi is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04£14.90
$10.82₾28.39
85.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.4£65.7
$43.85₾115
101.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90£8.10
$8.31₾21.80
31.17%
Cappuccino
$4.85£3.60
$2.97₾7.78
63.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54£1.89
$0.77₾2.01
229.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72£1.28
$0.46₾1.20
273.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.82£5.07
$2.14₾5.63
218.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22£4.62
$2.87₾7.52
116.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$1.90₾4.99
0.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75£1.30
$0.71₾1.86
146.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03£2.25
$1.91₾5.00
58.64%
Eggs
$4.63£3.44
$2.48₾6.52
86.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.13£7.53
$7.74₾20.29
30.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.95£6.66
$6.18₾16.21
44.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.23£6.86
$9.57₾25.12
-3.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81£2.09
$1.17₾3.06
140.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65£1.22
$1.65₾4.34
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25£2.41
$1.85₾4.84
75.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.75£4.27
$2.33₾6.11
146.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75£1.30
$0.71₾1.85
146.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48£1.10
$0.67₾1.76
120.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.88
$1.19₾3.12
-0.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74£1.29
$0.66₾1.72
163.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.49£14.49
$2.92₾7.65
567.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.10£8.25
$7.69₾20.18
44.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18£2.37
$1.59₾4.18
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49£2.59
$2.31₾6.06
51.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15£2.35
$0.38₾1.01
728.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.9£58.7
$14.76₾38.72
434.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03£2.99
$1.50₾3.92
168.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.58£1.92
$0.68₾1.77
279.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.49£15.23
$7.26₾19.04
182.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$1.09₾2.87
75.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K£28.8K
$18.6K₾48.8K
108.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.4K£40.5K
$20.5K₾53.7K
165.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292£217
$73.0₾192
299.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.13£14.96
$11.97₾31.41
68.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.95£31.93
$18.00₾47.22
138.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.58£29.42
$61.0₾160
-35.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.55£6.36
$16.52₾43.34
-48.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.87£5.85
$6.70₾17.58
17.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,991£1,480
$269₾705
640.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.8K£25.2K
$5,152₾13.5K
556.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3£51.5
$76.5₾201
-9.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81£27.37
$43.41₾114
-15.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4£55.3
$120₾316
-38.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2£49.93
$111₾290
-39.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,311£975
$687₾1,803
90.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,123£835
$470₾1,234
138.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,558£1,902
$1,353₾3,550
89.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,660£1,234
$789₾2,069
110.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,509£4,095
$2,468₾6,473
123.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,517£2,614
$1,456₾3,818
141.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cardiff
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,316£2,465
$659₾1,729
403.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
11.89
-49.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cardiff: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,311 in Cardiff and $687 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cardiff pays 403% 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: $88.0 in Cardiff vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $205 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.
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
Cardiff vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cardiff and in Tbilisi?
Cardiff and Tbilisi differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($2,355 vs $1,197 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cardiff or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 403% higher in Cardiff, 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 Cardiff and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,311 in Cardiff versus $687 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $88.0 in Cardiff. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cardiff or Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $2,355 per month in Cardiff versus $1,197 in Tbilisi – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $2,355 in Cardiff, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Cardiff. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cardiff and Tbilisi?
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 Cardiff or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cardiff and Tbilisi 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: Cardiff or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Cardiff. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.