Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnson City, TN and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,269 a month against $2,138 in Johnson City, TN, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Johnson City, TN, United States
Tbilisi, Georgia
Johnson City, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,138
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Johnson City, TN 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 Johnson City, TN and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,138 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Johnson City, TN $2,138
  • Tbilisi $1,269

A couple spends around $3,133 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $2,016 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Johnson City, TN $3,133
  • Tbilisi $2,016

A family of three spends $4,129 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $2,763 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Johnson City, TN $4,129
  • Tbilisi $2,763

Johnson City, TN costs about 68% more than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Johnson City, TN sits 57% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.78 $13.78
$11.63 ₾30.07
18.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 $53.9
$37.83 ₾97.8
42.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$9.66 ₾24.98
2.28%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$3.57 ₾9.24
43.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.08 ₾2.78
166.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.56 ₾1.45
262.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$2.62 ₾6.78
88.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 $6.04
$3.04 ₾7.85
98.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.17 ₾5.60
-54.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.80 ₾2.06
368.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.74 ₾4.51
128.16%
Eggs
$3.11 $3.11
$2.83 ₾7.31
9.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 $7.53
$9.31 ₾24.07
-19.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.67 $13.67
$6.52 ₾16.85
109.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.09 $13.09
$12.95 ₾33.50
1.08%
Apples (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$1.68 ₾4.34
351.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.85 ₾4.79
-6.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$1.97 ₾5.10
108.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.42 ₾6.25
50.83%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$0.82 ₾2.11
314.63%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$0.74 ₾1.91
486.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.34 ₾3.47
64.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.77 ₾2.00
206.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.01 $9.01
$3.57 ₾9.24
152.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.14 $13.14
$7.67 ₾19.83
71.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.70 ₾4.39
-5.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.40 ₾6.21
84.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.40 ₾1.05
142.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.13 $25.13
$15.23 ₾39.38
65.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.58 $5.58
$1.14 ₾2.95
389.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$0.78 ₾2.02
84.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.83 ₾30.58
28.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.45 ₾3.75
-42.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$24.6K ₾63.6K
22.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$22.3K ₾57.8K
10.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$88.8 ₾230
93.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$13.12 ₾33.93
295.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$19.67 ₾50.9
217.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.20 $47.20
$64.1 ₾166
-26.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.14 $20.14
$19.04 ₾49.24
5.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.88 $11.88
$7.12 ₾18.42
66.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,185 $1,185
$375 ₾971
215.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K $14.6K
$10.5K ₾27.1K
39.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.41 $37.41
$104 ₾268
-63.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.80 $30.80
$39.26 ₾102
-21.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 $87.4
$117 ₾303
-25.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4 $94.4
$122 ₾315
-22.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 $1,178
$695 ₾1,798
69.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$980 $980
$451 ₾1,167
117.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 $1,992
$1,355 ₾3,504
47.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$906 ₾2,343
78.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,444 $2,444
$2,295 ₾5,934
6.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 $2,033
$1,345 ₾3,478
51.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johnson City, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,584 $3,584
$664 ₾1,718
439.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
12.62
-48.57%

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

Last update for Johnson City, TN: October 26, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Johnson City, TN
$980
Tbilisi
$451 54% $529
Groceries & Markets
Johnson City, TN
$388
Tbilisi
$234 39.7% $154
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnson City, TN
$287
Tbilisi
$122 57.6% $165
Eating Out
Johnson City, TN
$258
Tbilisi
$191 26.1% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Johnson City, TN
$113
Tbilisi
$172 52.8% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Johnson City, TN
$71
Tbilisi
$78 10.3% $7.3
Getting Around
Johnson City, TN
$42
Tbilisi
$22 47.6% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,178 in Johnson City, TN versus $695 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Johnson City, TN are about 5.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Johnson City, TN versus $38 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $234 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Johnson City, TN
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
17:35 5:35 PM
01:35 1:35 AM
8 h ahead of Johnson City, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
66,027
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.88 GEL (1 GEL = 0.347 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Johnson City, TN Tbilisi 9,810 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Johnson City, TN
  • 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
Johnson City, TN vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Johnson City, TN?
Yes – Johnson City, TN is pricier by about 68%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,207 per month in Johnson City, TN and $1,904 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $695 there versus $1,178 in Johnson City, TN.
Is eating out cheaper in Johnson City, TN or in Tbilisi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Johnson City, TN and $38 in Tbilisi. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Johnson City, TN and in Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,138 in Johnson City, TN and $1,269 in Tbilisi. That makes Tbilisi about 41% cheaper.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Johnson City, TN or in Tbilisi?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,269, than in Johnson City, TN at $2,138. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johnson City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Johnson City, TN or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Johnson City, TN or Tbilisi?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johnson City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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