Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,168 in East Lansing, MI versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,119 in East Lansing, MI versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,071 in East Lansing, MI versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.

Living in East Lansing, MI is roughly 79% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: East Lansing, MI is 62% above, Tbilisi is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.03 $13.03

$10.80 ₾28.71

20.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 $65.7

$43.18 ₾115

52.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$8.29 ₾22.04

18.58%

Cappuccino

$4.53 $4.53

$3.00 ₾7.97

51.00%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$0.82 ₾2.17

179.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.46 ₾1.21

189.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.23 ₾5.93

126.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.92 ₾7.75

72.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.93 ₾5.12

-61.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 $2.84

$0.68 ₾1.81

317.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.88 ₾5.00

120.74%

Eggs

$2.44 $2.44

$2.54 ₾6.74

-3.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$7.42 ₾19.70

68.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$6.19 ₾16.44

86.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.36 ₾24.87

59.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$1.22 ₾3.25

221.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.66 ₾4.40

7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.80 ₾4.78

88.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.24 ₾5.96

67.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.71 ₾1.89

229.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.67 ₾1.79

194.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.18 ₾3.13

94.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.66 ₾1.76

224.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.09 $10.09

$2.98 ₾7.91

238.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$7.61 ₾20.22

106.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.54 ₾4.08

10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.25 ₾5.99

-31.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.36 ₾0.95

341.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.43 $49.43

$14.44 ₾38.38

242.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.49 ₾3.97

63.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.68 ₾1.82

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.37 $40.37

$7.23 ₾19.20

458.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.14 ₾3.04

-28.07%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$18.5K ₾49.1K

58.53%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$20.0K ₾53.1K

27.55%

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

$176 $176

$73.7 ₾196

139.26%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$11.64 ₾30.92

333.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$17.84 ₾47.41

250.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.94 $35.94

$60.1 ₾160

-40.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.87 $14.87

$16.80 ₾44.65

-11.49%

Cinema Ticket

$11.14 $11.14

$6.60 ₾17.55

68.79%

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

$1,477 $1,477

$266 ₾708

454.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

171.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.73 $43.73

$77.7 ₾206

-43.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.27 $37.27

$44.75 ₾119

-16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 $68.8

$117 ₾310

-41.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.6 $65.6

$113 ₾300

-41.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 $1,242

$693 ₾1,840

79.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 $1,055

$462 ₾1,227

128.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 $2,055

$1,320 ₾3,507

55.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 $1,649

$774 ₾2,057

112.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,027 $2,027

$2,430 ₾6,458

-16.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,588 $1,588

$1,446 ₾3,842

9.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,999 $5,999

$673 ₾1,788

791.61%

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 East Lansing, MI: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,242 in East Lansing, MI and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

East Lansing, MI pays 792% 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: $66.0 in East Lansing, MI vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $203 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

East Lansing, MI vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Lansing, MI and Tbilisi differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($2,168 vs $1,209 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

East Lansing, MI pays 792% 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: $1,242 in East Lansing, MI versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,168 per month in East Lansing, MI versus $1,209 in Tbilisi – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 242% less than in East Lansing, MI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,168 in East Lansing, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in East Lansing, MI. 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, East Lansing, MI 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 79% less than in East Lansing, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.