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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,444 in Elgin, IL versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,486 in Elgin, IL versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,528 in Elgin, IL versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.

Living in Elgin, IL is roughly 102% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Elgin, IL is 82% above, Tbilisi is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$10.80 ₾28.69

40.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 $59.7

$43.18 ₾115

38.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$8.29 ₾22.02

22.56%

Cappuccino

$4.02 $4.02

$3.00 ₾7.96

34.00%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$0.82 ₾2.17

234.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.46 ₾1.21

326.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.23 ₾5.93

175.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.92 ₾7.74

74.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.93 ₾5.11

-61.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$0.68 ₾1.81

442.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$1.88 ₾4.99

175.53%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$2.54 ₾6.73

59.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$7.42 ₾19.69

49.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.44 $13.44

$6.19 ₾16.43

117.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.36 ₾24.86

16.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.22 ₾3.25

75.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.66 ₾4.40

-34.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.80 ₾4.78

-7.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.24 ₾5.95

20.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$0.71 ₾1.89

264.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$0.67 ₾1.79

331.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.18 ₾3.13

65.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.66 ₾1.76

198.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 $10.03

$2.98 ₾7.91

236.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.58 $15.58

$7.61 ₾20.20

104.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.54 ₾4.08

52.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.25 ₾5.98

107.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.36 ₾0.95

469.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.35

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 $4.62

$1.49 ₾3.96

210.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.68 ₾1.82

214.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.60 $27.60

$7.23 ₾19.19

281.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.14 ₾3.04

-23.68%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

35.70%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

24.81%

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

$98.8 $98.8

$73.7 ₾196

34.07%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$11.64 ₾30.90

344.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.44 $49.44

$17.84 ₾47.38

177.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.26 $43.26

$60.1 ₾160

-28.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.62

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$6.60 ₾17.54

130.15%

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

$1,644 $1,644

$266 ₾707

516.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

380.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.93 $39.93

$77.7 ₾206

-48.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.28 $49.28

$44.75 ₾119

10.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 $99.1

$117 ₾310

-15.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$113 ₾300

18.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$693 ₾1,839

126.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$462 ₾1,226

198.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 $2,626

$1,320 ₾3,504

98.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$774 ₾2,056

184.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,628 $2,628

$2,430 ₾6,454

8.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,410 $2,410

$1,446 ₾3,839

66.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,873 $3,873

$673 ₾1,786

475.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

11.89

-44.91%

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

Last update for Elgin, IL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,570 in Elgin, IL and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elgin, IL pays 476% 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 Elgin, IL vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 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

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

Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Elgin, IL pays 476% 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: $1,570 in Elgin, IL versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,644 in Elgin, IL versus $266 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $60.0 in Elgin, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,444 in Elgin, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Elgin, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Elgin, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Elgin, 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 102% less than in Elgin, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.