😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,255 in Columbia, TN versus $1,188 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,452 in Columbia, TN versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,650 in Columbia, TN versus $2,479 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Columbia, TN is roughly 90% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Columbia, TN is 69% above, Tbilisi is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.20$12.20
$11.10₾29.68
9.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1$60.1
$44.65₾119
34.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.06$10.06
$8.35₾22.32
20.48%
Cappuccino
$3.98$3.98
$2.96₾7.92
34.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16$2.16
$0.74₾1.98
191.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55$1.55
$0.45₾1.21
244.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.14$6.14
$2.21₾5.92
177.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29$7.29
$2.91₾7.77
150.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$2.00₾5.34
-54.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80$2.80
$0.72₾1.92
288.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.68$4.68
$1.82₾4.88
157.14%
Eggs
$2.65$2.65
$2.59₾6.91
2.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13$11.13
$7.45₾19.93
49.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.61$6.61
$6.17₾16.49
7.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98$12.98
$9.72₾25.99
33.54%
Apples(1kg)
$6.41$6.41
$1.20₾3.21
434.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26$1.26
$1.63₾4.36
-22.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.28$5.28
$1.85₾4.94
185.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.02$4.02
$2.34₾6.27
71.79%
Potato(1kg)
$5.14$5.14
$0.66₾1.76
678.79%
Onion(1kg)
$3.54$3.54
$0.63₾1.70
461.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33$2.33
$1.24₾3.32
87.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$0.66₾1.77
269.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.04$8.04
$3.03₾8.11
165.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.91$13.91
$7.63₾20.41
82.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.52₾4.06
15.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$2.32₾6.20
-16.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.38₾1.02
436.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.43₾38.60
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.99$1.99
$1.42₾3.79
40.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36$1.36
$0.67₾1.80
102.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.15$20.15
$7.35₾19.67
174.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.13₾3.02
-26.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K$33.6K
$18.5K₾49.5K
81.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$20.4K₾54.6K
29.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155$155
$72.3₾193
114.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.3$58.3
$11.97₾32.01
386.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8$66.8
$17.55₾46.93
280.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.64$34.64
$59.6₾159
-41.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.29₾43.55
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.96$11.96
$6.64₾17.74
80.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$589$589
$259₾692
127.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.0K$27.0K
$5,171₾13.8K
421.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.28$40.28
$77.0₾206
-47.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.03$33.03
$44.07₾118
-25.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9$75.9
$117₾313
-35.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.7$91.7
$111₾298
-17.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,356$1,356
$697₾1,864
94.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268$1,268
$458₾1,226
176.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,510$2,510
$1,309₾3,501
91.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,375$2,375
$782₾2,092
203.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,544₾6,804
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,446₾3,866
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,460$2,460
$639₾1,709
285.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
11.89
-45.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Columbia, TN: May 10, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,356 in Columbia, TN and $697 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Columbia, TN pays 285% 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: $60.0 in Columbia, TN vs $45.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 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
Columbia, TN vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Columbia, TN?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Columbia, TN or Tbilisi?
Columbia, TN pays 285% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Columbia, TN and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,356 in Columbia, TN versus $697 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $589 in Columbia, TN versus $259 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Columbia, TN or Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $60.0 in Columbia, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Columbia, TN or Tbilisi?
At $1,188 in Tbilisi versus $2,255 in Columbia, TN, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Columbia, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Columbia, TN or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Columbia, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Columbia, TN or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Columbia, TN 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Columbia, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Columbia, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared