Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 155% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chicago, IL sits 130% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$10.80 ₾28.70

93.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$43.18 ₾115

127.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.29 ₾22.03

43.06%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.00 ₾7.96

86.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$0.82 ₾2.17

274.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.46 ₾1.21

436.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$2.23 ₾5.93

220.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$2.92 ₾7.75

176.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.93 ₾5.11

-45.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$0.68 ₾1.81

504.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$1.88 ₾4.99

198.40%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.54 ₾6.73

77.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$7.42 ₾19.70

92.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$6.19 ₾16.43

140.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$9.36 ₾24.86

105.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$1.22 ₾3.25

321.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.66 ₾4.40

6.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.80 ₾4.78

143.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.24 ₾5.96

103.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.71 ₾1.89

257.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$0.67 ₾1.79

310.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.18 ₾3.13

105.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.66 ₾1.76

296.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$2.98 ₾7.91

400.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$7.61 ₾20.21

94.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.54 ₾4.08

59.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.25 ₾5.98

65.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.36 ₾0.95

588.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$14.44 ₾38.36

422.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.49 ₾3.96

113.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.68 ₾1.82

108.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$7.23 ₾19.19

244.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.14 ₾3.04

-7.02%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

72.92%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

30.39%

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

$185 $185

$73.7 ₾196

150.98%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$11.64 ₾30.91

430.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$17.84 ₾47.39

275.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$60.1 ₾160

25.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$16.80 ₾44.63

-22.14%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$6.60 ₾17.54

122.88%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$266 ₾708

658.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

659.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$77.7 ₾206

-16.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$44.75 ₾119

17.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$117 ₾310

-16.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$113 ₾300

30.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$693 ₾1,839

233.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$462 ₾1,226

244.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,320 ₾3,505

249.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$774 ₾2,056

258.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,430 ₾6,455

61.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,446 ₾3,840

80.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$673 ₾1,787

675.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

11.89

-44.49%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL 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 675% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 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

Chicago, IL vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 155% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL 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.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,209 in Tbilisi to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.