😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,186 in Carlton versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,078 in Carlton versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,970 in Carlton versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Carlton is roughly 80% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Carlton is 63% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.53A$27.59
$10.85₾28.75
80.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.8A$90.2
$44.17₾117
44.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.39A$13.27
$8.28₾21.94
13.41%
Cappuccino
$2.74A$3.86
$3.02₾8.00
-9.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47A$3.50
$0.76₾2.02
225.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92A$2.71
$0.46₾1.22
317.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.23A$8.80
$2.24₾5.93
178.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03A$8.52
$3.00₾7.95
101.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07A$1.51
$1.93₾5.11
-44.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69A$2.39
$0.72₾1.91
134.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62A$2.29
$1.84₾4.87
-11.96%
Eggs
$3.05A$4.31
$2.45₾6.48
24.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10A$12.85
$7.43₾19.67
22.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.10A$12.86
$6.48₾17.16
40.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.78A$20.88
$9.70₾25.70
52.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18A$4.49
$1.20₾3.18
165.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66A$3.76
$1.56₾4.14
70.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96A$4.18
$1.79₾4.75
65.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96A$5.59
$2.23₾5.90
77.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28A$3.22
$0.65₾1.73
250.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01A$2.84
$0.68₾1.79
195.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18A$3.08
$1.19₾3.16
83.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29A$1.82
$0.70₾1.86
84.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$28.59A$40.40
$2.95₾7.82
869.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.63A$15.01
$7.33₾19.41
45.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60A$6.51
$1.52₾4.02
202.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24A$7.40
$2.25₾5.95
132.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.89A$4.09
$0.36₾0.95
702.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.0A$72.1
$14.60₾38.68
249.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64A$5.14
$1.50₾3.97
142.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32A$1.87
$0.73₾1.92
80.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.67A$34.85
$7.45₾19.74
231.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19A$1.68
$1.14₾3.01
4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KA$32.1K
$18.5K₾49.0K
22.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.1KA$18.5K
$20.3K₾53.6K
-35.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.2A$106
$73.9₾196
1.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33A$30.14
$11.71₾31.01
82.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.40A$61.3
$18.16₾48.09
138.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.84A$63.4
$61.7₾163
-27.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.80A$25.14
$16.66₾44.12
6.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.86A$16.76
$6.61₾17.50
79.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,210A$1,710
$264₾700
358.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KA$16.2K
$5,145₾13.6K
122.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3A$96.5
$74.9₾198
-8.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.9A$76.1
$43.98₾117
22.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5A$107
$118₾312
-35.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104A$148
$114₾301
-8.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,310A$1,851
$692₾1,833
89.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,120A$1,583
$454₾1,203
146.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,939A$2,740
$1,323₾3,504
46.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,618A$2,286
$789₾2,089
105.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,925A$9,784
$2,431₾6,440
184.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,589A$6,484
$1,441₾3,818
218.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carlton
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,912A$8,353
$645₾1,709
816.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.19
11.89
-47.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Carlton: June 7, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,310 in Carlton and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Carlton pays 816% 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: $64.0 in Carlton vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $204 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
Carlton vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Carlton and Tbilisi?
Carlton and Tbilisi differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($2,186 vs $1,218 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Carlton or Tbilisi?
Carlton pays 816% more on average, 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 Carlton and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,310 in Carlton versus $692 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Carlton and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $1,210 in Carlton versus $264 in Tbilisi. 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 55% higher in Carlton. 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,186 in Carlton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Carlton. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Carlton 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 Carlton or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Carlton 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: Carlton or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Carlton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.