Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,266 a month against $3,023 in Des Plaines, IL, rent and utilities included – about $21,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Des Plaines, IL
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Des Plaines, IL Living Index
62

Cost of Living Index in Tbilisi
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Tbilisi Living Index

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Des Plaines, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,023

/mo nomad

Tbilisi

🇬🇪 Georgia

$1,266

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Des Plaines, IL and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Des Plaines, IL and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,023 in Des Plaines, IL versus $1,266 in Tbilisi.

Des Plaines, IL $3,023
Tbilisi $1,266

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,419 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,007 in Tbilisi.

Des Plaines, IL $4,419
Tbilisi $2,007

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,815 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,749 in Tbilisi.

Des Plaines, IL $5,815
Tbilisi $2,749

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 139% more expensive than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Des Plaines, IL is 124% above, Tbilisi is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.29 $21.29

$11.34 ₾29.35

87.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.1 $89.1

$39.05 ₾101

128.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 $13.10

$9.63 ₾24.92

36.03%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$3.46 ₾8.95

64.16%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.09 ₾2.82

139.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.63 ₾1.62

255.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.05 $7.05

$2.77 ₾7.17

154.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$3.10 ₾8.04

165.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.25 ₾5.81

-59.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 $3.40

$0.80 ₾2.07

325.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$1.76 ₾4.55

138.64%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.75 ₾7.11

53.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.74 $14.74

$9.39 ₾24.32

56.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.04 $13.04

$6.66 ₾17.23

95.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.82 $18.82

$12.92 ₾33.45

45.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$1.67 ₾4.31

176.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.80 ₾4.65

-7.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$1.92 ₾4.97

116.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.41 ₾6.24

104.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.86 ₾2.23

215.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$0.69 ₾1.80

294.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.40 ₾3.62

49.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.71 ₾1.85

245.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 $10.90

$3.51 ₾9.08

210.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$7.61 ₾19.69

96.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.63 ₾4.21

57.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.31 ₾5.98

45.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.37 ₾0.96

429.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.0 $60.0

$15.67 ₾40.57

282.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.14 ₾2.95

188.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.79 ₾2.05

72.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.88 $24.88

$11.86 ₾30.70

109.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.40 ₾3.62

-29.29%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$24.8K ₾64.2K

45.80%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$21.9K ₾56.6K

17.79%

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

$192 $192

$89.1 ₾231

115.42%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$13.21 ₾34.19

347.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$19.76 ₾51.1

284.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 $123

$64.9 ₾168

89.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.32 $39.32

$19.02 ₾49.24

106.73%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$6.57 ₾17.02

124.05%

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

$1,563 $1,563

$377 ₾975

314.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$10.8K ₾27.9K

119.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$102 ₾265

-36.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$39.70 ₾103

27.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$118 ₾305

-14.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$123 ₾320

-3.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 $2,084

$666 ₾1,724

212.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 $1,548

$449 ₾1,163

244.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,937 $3,937

$1,284 ₾3,324

206.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,485 $2,485

$890 ₾2,303

179.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,279 $3,279

$2,425 ₾6,276

35.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 $2,480

$1,380 ₾3,573

79.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,121 $6,121

$680 ₾1,760

800.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.77

12.62

-46.35%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Des Plaines, IL

$1.5K 51.2%

Tbilisi

$449 35.5% 71% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Des Plaines, IL

$418 13.8%

Tbilisi

$234 18.5% 44.1% $184

Eating Out

Des Plaines, IL

$349 11.5%

Tbilisi

$188 14.9% 46.1% $161

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Des Plaines, IL

$327 10.8%

Tbilisi

$122 9.7% 62.7% $205

Sport & Entertainment

Des Plaines, IL

$152 5%

Tbilisi

$78 6.2% 48.7% $74

Clothing & Footwear

Des Plaines, IL

$151 5%

Tbilisi

$172 13.6% 13.9% $21

Getting Around

Des Plaines, IL

$78 2.6%

Tbilisi

$22 1.8% 71.4% $56

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,084 in Des Plaines, IL and $666 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 800% 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: $89.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $234 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Des Plaines, IL

🇬🇪 Tbilisi

🕒 Local time

16:25 4:25 PM

01:25 1:25 AM

9 h ahead of Des Plaines, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

60,675

1,241,700 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Georgian Lari GEL ₾

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 GEL = 0.386 USD

1 GEL = 0.344 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇬🇪 Georgian Lari (₾)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

GEL to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Des Plaines, IL Tbilisi 9,560 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Des Plaines, IL
Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Des Plaines, IL and Tbilisi differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($3,023 vs $1,266 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 800% higher in Des Plaines, IL, 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: $2,084 in Des Plaines, IL versus $666 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Des Plaines, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $89.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,266 in Tbilisi versus $3,023 in Des Plaines, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Des Plaines, IL 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 139% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.