Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,987 per month in Charleston, SC vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,266 per month in Charleston, SC vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,544 per month in Charleston, SC vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Charleston, SC costs about 147% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Charleston, SC sits 123% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$10.80 ₾28.70

69.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$43.18 ₾115

81.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$8.29 ₾22.03

22.80%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$3.00 ₾7.96

66.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.82 ₾2.17

195.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.46 ₾1.21

308.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.23 ₾5.93

176.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$2.92 ₾7.75

165.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.93 ₾5.11

-47.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$0.68 ₾1.81

461.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.88 ₾4.99

69.15%

Eggs

$4.67 $4.67

$2.54 ₾6.73

83.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 $14.00

$7.42 ₾19.70

88.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$6.19 ₾16.43

143.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$9.36 ₾24.86

83.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$1.22 ₾3.25

368.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.66 ₾4.40

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$1.80 ₾4.78

257.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.24 ₾5.96

80.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$0.71 ₾1.89

439.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$0.67 ₾1.79

326.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.18 ₾3.13

52.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.66 ₾1.76

196.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.30 $7.30

$2.98 ₾7.91

144.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.70 $19.70

$7.61 ₾20.21

158.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.54 ₾4.08

20.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.25 ₾5.98

41.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.36 ₾0.95

466.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.5 $57.5

$14.44 ₾38.36

298.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.49 ₾3.96

97.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.68 ₾1.82

135.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.70 $19.70

$7.23 ₾19.19

172.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.14 ₾3.04

-32.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.2K $33.2K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

79.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.6K $24.6K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

23.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$143 $143

$73.7 ₾196

93.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.8 $53.8

$11.64 ₾30.91

362.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$17.84 ₾47.39

310.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 $29.48

$60.1 ₾160

-50.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 $18.21

$16.80 ₾44.63

8.39%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 $13.10

$6.60 ₾17.54

98.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,326 $1,326

$266 ₾708

397.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

375.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 $49.37

$77.7 ₾206

-36.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.46 $35.46

$44.75 ₾119

-20.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$117 ₾310

-20.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$113 ₾300

37.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,511 $2,511

$693 ₾1,839

262.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$462 ₾1,226

273.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,406 $4,406

$1,320 ₾3,505

233.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$774 ₾2,056

248.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,667 $5,667

$2,430 ₾6,455

133.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,973 $2,973

$1,446 ₾3,840

105.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,627 $4,627

$673 ₾1,787

587.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.89

-45.25%

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

Last update for Charleston, SC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,511 in Charleston, SC versus $693 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 588% higher in Charleston, SC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Charleston, SC versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $203 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Charleston, SC vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston, SC costs about 147% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,480 per month in Charleston, SC and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $1,326 per month in Charleston, SC and $266 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 115% more in Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Charleston, SC at $2,987. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,209 versus $2,987 in Charleston, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.