Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,077 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,199 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,127 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,833 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,176 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,466 in Tbilisi.

Living in Des Moines, IA is roughly 73% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Des Moines, IA is 55% above, Tbilisi is 11% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.83 $15.83

$10.86 ₾29.20

45.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$43.33 ₾117

81.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.96 $11.96

$8.25 ₾22.19

44.97%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$3.10 ₾8.33

58.06%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$0.80 ₾2.15

188.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.46 ₾1.24

317.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.16 ₾5.81

137.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$2.94 ₾7.92

136.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.93 ₾5.19

-49.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 $2.43

$0.67 ₾1.81

262.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.82 ₾4.91

22.53%

Eggs

$3.65 $3.65

$2.56 ₾6.88

42.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.83 $12.83

$7.61 ₾20.48

68.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 $10.59

$6.51 ₾17.50

62.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 $12.72

$9.67 ₾26.00

31.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.16 ₾3.12

295.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.62 ₾4.36

-8.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.87 ₾5.04

101.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.33 ₾6.26

48.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$0.65 ₾1.75

158.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$0.63 ₾1.70

368.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.18 ₾3.17

95.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.70 ₾1.90

61.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.04 ₾8.17

129.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$7.27 ₾19.56

104.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.59 ₾4.27

5.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.30 ₾6.18

71.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.36 ₾0.96

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.7 $57.7

$14.68 ₾39.48

292.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.50 ₾4.03

30.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.70 ₾1.87

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.93 $19.93

$7.35 ₾19.78

171.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.13 ₾3.05

-27.43%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$18.2K ₾49.0K

45.28%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$20.2K ₾54.5K

22.84%

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

$148 $148

$74.0 ₾199

99.68%

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

$50.3 $50.3

$11.87 ₾31.93

324.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$17.55 ₾47.20

200.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 $67.9

$60.3 ₾162

12.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.01 $20.01

$16.69 ₾44.89

19.89%

Cinema Ticket

$15.07 $15.07

$6.73 ₾18.10

123.92%

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

$1,391 $1,391

$261 ₾703

432.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K $11.9K

$5,146 ₾13.8K

132.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$77.6 ₾209

-31.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.50 $42.50

$43.48 ₾117

-2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 $73.9

$118 ₾318

-37.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$111 ₾298

11.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 $1,209

$703 ₾1,891

71.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 $897

$457 ₾1,231

96.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,788 $1,788

$1,346 ₾3,621

32.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$788 ₾2,120

92.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,334 $2,334

$2,560 ₾6,885

-8.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,352 $2,352

$1,443 ₾3,881

63.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,564 $3,564

$648 ₾1,742

450.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.89

-45.33%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Des Moines, IA and $703 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Moines, IA pays 450% 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: $79 in Des Moines, IA vs $43 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $331 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

Des Moines, IA vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Des Moines, IA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Des Moines, IA pays 450% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Des Moines, IA versus $703 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $79.0 in Des Moines, IA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,077 per month in Des Moines, IA versus $1,199 in Tbilisi – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $2,077 in Des Moines, IA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Des Moines, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,199 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Des Moines, IA 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.

Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Des Moines, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.