😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,397 in Cartagena versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,993 in Cartagena versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,589 in Cartagena versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Cartagena is roughly 18% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cartagena is 4% above, Tbilisi is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94€11.94
$11.15₾30.00
25.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5€49.20
$43.13₾116
33.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93€6.79
$8.22₾22.11
-3.53%
Cappuccino
$2.57€2.20
$3.13₾8.42
-17.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.04
$0.74₾2.00
222.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.67
$0.45₾1.22
333.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.44€2.95
$2.13₾5.74
61.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€2.95
$2.99₾8.06
15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.97
$1.89₾5.09
-39.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01€0.86
$0.73₾1.97
38.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.85₾4.98
-4.86%
Eggs
$2.94€2.52
$2.45₾6.58
20.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.54€9.88
$7.85₾21.12
47.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43€7.22
$6.25₾16.82
34.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.18€12.14
$9.77₾26.28
45.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27€1.94
$1.21₾3.26
87.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.59₾4.28
13.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39€1.19
$1.79₾4.81
-22.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$2.32₾6.25
-24.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29€1.10
$0.71₾1.91
81.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05€0.90
$0.67₾1.81
56.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10€0.94
$1.18₾3.16
-6.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.71₾1.92
-21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65€4.84
$2.92₾7.85
93.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19€5.30
$7.25₾19.50
-14.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.98
$1.55₾4.17
-25.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$2.31₾6.21
-44.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$0.38₾1.03
271.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.64€9.97
$14.81₾39.83
-21.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48€2.98
$1.48₾3.98
135.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20€1.02
$0.69₾1.86
73.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.92€21.33
$7.45₾20.05
234.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.51
$1.15₾3.10
53.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K€26.5K
$18.0K₾48.4K
71.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K€27.3K
$19.8K₾53.4K
60.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143€123
$73.4₾198
95.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.23€11.32
$11.64₾31.32
13.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14€25.80
$17.77₾47.79
69.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.62€33.06
$60.6₾163
-36.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.09€12.92
$16.44₾44.21
-8.21%
Cinema Ticket
$8.13€6.96
$6.51₾17.52
24.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433€370
$263₾707
64.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,792€2,390
$5,136₾13.8K
-45.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.05€37.71
$77.7₾209
-43.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.92€27.32
$44.39₾119
-28.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.25€37.88
$118₾317
-62.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1€66.0
$114₾307
-32.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$778€666
$693₾1,865
12.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$616€527
$462₾1,244
33.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$921€789
$1,337₾3,597
-31.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$771€660
$779₾2,096
-1.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,839€1,574
$2,530₾6,805
-27.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467€1,256
$1,430₾3,847
2.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartagena
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,842€1,576
$633₾1,702
191.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.44
11.89
-71.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $778 in Cartagena and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cartagena pays 191% 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: $57.0 in Cartagena vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $206 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
Cartagena vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cartagena or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Cartagena. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cartagena or Tbilisi?
Cartagena pays 191% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cartagena vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $778 in Cartagena versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Cartagena vs Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $57.0 in Cartagena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Cartagena compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,397 per month in Cartagena versus $1,185 in Tbilisi – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Cartagena or Tbilisi?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,397 in Cartagena, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Cartagena. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cartagena or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,185 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Cartagena compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Cartagena 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Cartagena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.