😐A single person spends $1,277 per month in Cartago vs $1,247 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,012 per month in Cartago vs $2,025 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,747 per month in Cartago vs $2,803 in Tbilisi, rent included.
😐Cartago costs about 2% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Cartago and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Cartago7% lower, Tbilisi9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.52COP 23.5K
$11.33₾29.45
-33.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.19COP 122.3K
$38.71₾101
1.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.40COP 26.2K
$9.52₾24.73
-11.76%
Cappuccino
$1.59COP 4,963
$3.41₾8.85
-53.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,101
$1.04₾2.71
25.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,798
$0.64₾1.66
40.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18COP 9,927
$2.61₾6.79
21.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85COP 12.0K
$3.24₾8.43
18.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67COP 5,200
$2.17₾5.65
-23.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98COP 6,173
$0.74₾1.92
167.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,779
$1.71₾4.45
-10.53%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$2.83₾7.36
4.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.57COP 20.5K
$9.22₾23.95
-28.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.17COP 22.4K
$6.76₾17.55
6.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.58COP 33.0K
$12.77₾33.17
-17.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66COP 11.4K
$1.64₾4.26
123.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41COP 4,409
$1.77₾4.60
-20.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78COP 5,551
$1.87₾4.85
-4.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75COP 5,468
$2.44₾6.34
-28.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,573
$0.87₾2.25
68.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,011
$0.65₾1.70
147.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16COP 3,622
$1.40₾3.64
-17.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03COP 3,229
$0.74₾1.93
39.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78COP 11.8K
$3.41₾8.86
10.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.28COP 41.4K
$7.60₾19.75
74.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48COP 4,605
$1.70₾4.41
-12.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58COP 8,066
$2.38₾6.20
8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06COP 3,313
$0.36₾0.94
194.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$15.24₾39.60
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87COP 2,727
$1.18₾3.07
-26.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,822
$0.76₾1.97
188.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.84COP 30.7K
$11.34₾29.47
-13.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,214
$1.33₾3.46
1.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6KCOP 92.3M
$24.7K₾64.2K
19.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1KCOP 112.5M
$22.0K₾57.2K
63.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117COP 365.2K
$88.9₾231
31.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25COP 41.3K
$13.33₾34.63
-0.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.12COP 97.1K
$20.12₾52.3
54.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.56COP 129.7K
$68.7₾178
-39.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.09₾47.01
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.41COP 26.2K
$6.72₾17.46
25.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$549COP 1.7M
$374₾971
47.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,925COP 21.6M
$10.7K₾27.8K
-35.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.1COP 256.2K
$101₾263
-18.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3COP 175.6K
$39.33₾102
43.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127COP 396.2K
$118₾305
8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113COP 351.9K
$122₾318
-7.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609COP 1.9M
$682₾1,773
-10.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.5M
$456₾1,186
7.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,158COP 3.6M
$1,303₾3,385
-11.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$993COP 3.1M
$899₾2,337
10.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,255COP 7.0M
$2,449₾6,365
-7.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,779COP 5.6M
$1,452₾3,774
22.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$652₾1,695
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.58
12.62
-8.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cartago: September 12, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $609 in Cartago versus $682 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Cartago versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Cartago vs $232 in Tbilisi – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Cartago vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Cartago?
Yes – Cartago is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,916 per month in Cartago and $1,870 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Cartago and in Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,277 in Cartago and $1,247 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $549 per month in Cartago and $374 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Cartago or in Tbilisi?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Cartago at $1,277. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cartago or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cartago or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.