Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,060 per month in Mackay vs $1,199 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,193 per month in Mackay vs $1,833 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,326 per month in Mackay vs $2,466 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Mackay costs about 72% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mackay sits 54% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 11% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09 A$22.53
$10.86 โ‚พ29.20
48.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7 A$98.9
$43.33 โ‚พ117
63.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.93 A$16.70
$8.25 โ‚พ22.19
44.61%
Cappuccino
$3.92 A$5.49
$3.10 โ‚พ8.33
26.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 A$4.26
$0.80 โ‚พ2.15
280.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 A$3.56
$0.46 โ‚พ1.24
452.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.65 A$9.30
$2.16 โ‚พ5.81
207.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.57 A$9.19
$2.94 โ‚พ7.92
123.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 A$1.85
$1.93 โ‚พ5.19
-31.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 A$2.98
$0.67 โ‚พ1.81
217.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 A$3.56
$1.82 โ‚พ4.91
39.56%
Eggs
$5.10 A$7.14
$2.56 โ‚พ6.88
99.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.82 A$12.35
$7.61 โ‚พ20.48
15.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.22 A$11.51
$6.51 โ‚พ17.50
26.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 A$20.70
$9.67 โ‚พ26.00
52.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 A$4.71
$1.16 โ‚พ3.12
190.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 A$3.86
$1.62 โ‚พ4.36
70.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.12
$1.87 โ‚พ5.04
57.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 A$6.71
$2.33 โ‚พ6.26
106.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 A$2.44
$0.65 โ‚พ1.75
167.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 A$2.28
$0.63 โ‚พ1.70
158.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 A$2.60
$1.18 โ‚พ3.17
57.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 A$3.05
$0.70 โ‚พ1.90
211.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.75 A$54.2
$3.04 โ‚พ8.17
1174.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.67 A$12.14
$7.27 โ‚พ19.56
19.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.77 A$6.67
$1.59 โ‚พ4.27
200.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.66 A$7.92
$2.30 โ‚พ6.18
146.09%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 A$3.11
$0.36 โ‚พ0.96
516.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 A$92.4
$14.68 โ‚พ39.48
349.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 A$7.69
$1.50 โ‚พ4.03
266.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 A$2.56
$0.70 โ‚พ1.87
161.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.98 A$44.78
$7.35 โ‚พ19.78
335.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 A$1.68
$1.13 โ‚พ3.05
6.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K A$52.4K
$18.2K โ‚พ49.0K
105.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K A$40.6K
$20.2K โ‚พ54.5K
43.38%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 A$261
$74.0 โ‚พ199
151.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.73 A$37.43
$11.87 โ‚พ31.93
125.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 A$101
$17.55 โ‚พ47.20
311.97%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.9 A$105
$60.3 โ‚พ162
24.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.60 A$27.44
$16.69 โ‚พ44.89
17.44%
Cinema Ticket
$15.37 A$21.52
$6.73 โ‚พ18.10
128.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,755 A$2,457
$261 โ‚พ703
571.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$16.9K
$5,146 โ‚พ13.8K
134.38%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4 A$94.3
$77.6 โ‚พ209
-13.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.86 A$65.6
$43.48 โ‚พ117
7.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 A$158
$118 โ‚พ318
-4.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 A$137
$111 โ‚พ298
-11.74%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 A$1,280
$703 โ‚พ1,891
30.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$797 A$1,116
$457 โ‚พ1,231
74.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,724 A$2,414
$1,346 โ‚พ3,621
28.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 A$2,303
$788 โ‚พ2,120
108.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,180 A$8,652
$2,560 โ‚พ6,885
141.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,005 A$7,007
$1,443 โ‚พ3,881
246.91%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Mackay
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,704 A$7,986
$648 โ‚พ1,742
780.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
11.89
-52.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mackay: April 21, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $915 in Mackay versus $703 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 run about 781% higher in Mackay, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Mackay versus $43 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $206 โ€“ making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Mackay vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Mackay?
Yes โ€“ Mackay is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,089 per month in Mackay and $1,799 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mackay and Tbilisi?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Mackay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Mackay or Tbilisi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Mackay and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mackay or Tbilisi?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,199, than in Mackay at $2,060. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mackay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mackay or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi โ€“ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mackay or Tbilisi?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mackay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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