๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,627 in Knoxville, TN versus $1,199 in Tbilisi.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,703 in Knoxville, TN versus $1,833 in Tbilisi.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,779 in Knoxville, TN versus $2,466 in Tbilisi.
๐Living in Knoxville, TN is roughly 119% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Knoxville, TN is 96% above, Tbilisi is 11% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69$17.69
$10.86โพ29.20
62.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6$84.6
$43.33โพ117
95.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.02$10.02
$8.25โพ22.19
21.45%
Cappuccino
$5.83$5.83
$3.10โพ8.33
88.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$0.80โพ2.15
207.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$0.46โพ1.24
410.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.36$6.36
$2.16โพ5.81
194.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27$6.27
$2.94โพ7.92
113.27%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.93โพ5.19
-44.04%
White Bread(500g)
$3.77$3.77
$0.67โพ1.81
462.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.01$4.01
$1.82โพ4.91
120.33%
Eggs
$3.77$3.77
$2.56โพ6.88
47.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07$10.07
$7.61โพ20.48
32.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.51$8.51
$6.51โพ17.50
30.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.47$15.47
$9.67โพ26.00
59.98%
Apples(1kg)
$6.27$6.27
$1.16โพ3.12
440.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38$1.38
$1.62โพ4.36
-14.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59$2.59
$1.87โพ5.04
38.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.40$5.40
$2.33โพ6.26
131.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20$2.20
$0.65โพ1.75
238.46%
Onion(1kg)
$4.55$4.55
$0.63โพ1.70
622.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.40$2.40
$1.18โพ3.17
103.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$0.70โพ1.90
218.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.09$9.09
$3.04โพ8.17
199.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.85$14.85
$7.27โพ19.56
104.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81$1.81
$1.59โพ4.27
13.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86$2.86
$2.30โพ6.18
24.35%
๐ Getting Around
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02$1.02
$0.36โพ0.96
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.43$29.43
$14.68โพ39.48
100.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96$4.96
$1.50โพ4.03
230.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51$1.51
$0.70โพ1.87
115.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.48$29.48
$7.35โพ19.78
301.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.13โพ3.05
-24.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K$30.3K
$18.2Kโพ49.0K
66.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K$26.5K
$20.2Kโพ54.5K
31.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240$240
$74.0โพ199
225.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5$53.5
$11.87โพ31.93
350.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8$68.8
$17.55โพ47.20
292.02%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.13$35.13
$60.3โพ162
-41.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.38$25.38
$16.69โพ44.89
52.07%
Cinema Ticket
$14.27$14.27
$6.73โพ18.10
112.04%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,140$1,140
$261โพ703
336.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.6K$20.6K
$5,146โพ13.8K
301.16%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7$55.7
$77.6โพ209
-28.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.2$59.2
$43.48โพ117
36.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109$109
$118โพ318
-7.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121$121
$111โพ298
9.16%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,655$1,655
$703โพ1,891
135.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,289$1,289
$457โพ1,231
181.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,168$3,168
$1,346โพ3,621
135.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,805$1,805
$788โพ2,120
129.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,694$4,694
$2,560โพ6,885
83.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,222$2,222
$1,443โพ3,881
53.98%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Knoxville, TN
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,511$3,511
$648โพ1,742
442.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.59
11.89
-44.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Knoxville, TN: April 22, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,655 in Knoxville, TN and $703 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐKnoxville, TN pays 442% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $85 in Knoxville, TN vs $43 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $206 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
Knoxville, TN vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Knoxville, TN or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost โ living expenses run 119% lower than in Knoxville, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Knoxville, TN or Tbilisi?
Knoxville, TN pays 442% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Knoxville, TN vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,655 in Knoxville, TN versus $703 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Knoxville, TN or Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Knoxville, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Knoxville, TN vs Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi โ a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $85.0 in Knoxville, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Knoxville, TN or Tbilisi?
At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $2,627 in Knoxville, TN, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Knoxville, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Knoxville, TN or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,199 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Knoxville, TN compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Knoxville, TN 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 119% less than in Knoxville, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Knoxville, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared