Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,061 in Helena, MT versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,367 in Helena, MT versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,673 in Helena, MT versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.

Living in Helena, MT is roughly 151% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Helena, MT is 128% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.89 $19.89

$10.85 ₾28.75

83.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.0 $90.0

$44.17 ₾117

103.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.44 $13.44

$8.28 ₾21.94

62.32%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$3.02 ₾8.00

66.89%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$0.76 ₾2.02

190.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.46 ₾1.22

284.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.24 ₾5.93

122.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 $6.44

$3.00 ₾7.95

114.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.93 ₾5.11

-40.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.42 $4.42

$0.72 ₾1.91

513.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.84 ₾4.87

98.91%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$2.45 ₾6.48

77.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.95 $30.95

$7.43 ₾19.67

316.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 $9.08

$6.48 ₾17.16

40.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.91 $19.91

$9.70 ₾25.70

105.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.20 ₾3.18

305.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.56 ₾4.14

14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.79 ₾4.75

147.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.23 ₾5.90

151.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.65 ₾1.73

243.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$0.68 ₾1.79

169.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.19 ₾3.16

43.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.70 ₾1.86

235.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 $10.25

$2.95 ₾7.82

247.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 $13.04

$7.33 ₾19.41

77.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.52 ₾4.02

15.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.25 ₾5.95

12.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.36 ₾0.95

894.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 $60.2

$14.60 ₾38.68

312.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 $9.94

$1.50 ₾3.97

562.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 $3.39

$0.73 ₾1.92

364.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.86 $45.86

$7.45 ₾19.74

515.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.14 ₾3.01

-26.32%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

94.36%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$20.3K ₾53.6K

50.63%

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

$356 $356

$73.9 ₾196

381.39%

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

$78.8 $78.8

$11.71 ₾31.01

572.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.2 $91.2

$18.16 ₾48.09

402.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 $51.0

$61.7 ₾163

-17.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.74 $14.74

$16.66 ₾44.12

-11.52%

Cinema Ticket

$10.43 $10.43

$6.61 ₾17.50

57.79%

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

$1,863 $1,863

$264 ₾700

605.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$5,145 ₾13.6K

342.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 $59.7

$74.9 ₾198

-20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$116 $116

$43.98 ₾117

164.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$118 ₾312

-25.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$114 ₾301

2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,672 $1,672

$692 ₾1,833

141.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$454 ₾1,203

214.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 $2,547

$1,323 ₾3,504

92.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,214 $2,214

$789 ₾2,089

180.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,431 ₾6,440

44.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,915 $2,915

$1,441 ₾3,818

102.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,901 $6,901

$645 ₾1,709

969.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

11.89

-43.57%

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

Last update for Helena, MT: June 9, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,672 in Helena, MT and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Helena, MT pays 970% 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: $90.0 in Helena, MT vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $204 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

Helena, MT vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Helena, MT and Tbilisi differ by about 151% in total monthly costs ($3,061 vs $1,218 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Helena, MT pays 970% 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: $1,672 in Helena, MT versus $692 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,863 in Helena, MT versus $264 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 121% higher in Helena, MT. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $3,061 in Helena, MT, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Helena, MT. 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, Helena, MT 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 151% less than in Helena, MT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.