Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,834 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,218 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,123 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,853 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,412 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,489 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Madison, WI costs about 133% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Madison, WI sits 111% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 $14.81

$10.85 ₾28.75

36.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 $75.9

$44.17 ₾117

71.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.12 $11.12

$8.28 ₾21.94

34.30%

Cappuccino

$5.40 $5.40

$3.02 ₾8.00

78.81%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$0.76 ₾2.02

263.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.46 ₾1.22

395.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$2.24 ₾5.93

164.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.00 ₾7.95

128.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.93 ₾5.11

-51.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$0.72 ₾1.91

431.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$1.84 ₾4.87

190.76%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$2.45 ₾6.48

67.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 $13.99

$7.43 ₾19.67

88.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$6.48 ₾17.16

102.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.52 $16.52

$9.70 ₾25.70

70.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.20 ₾3.18

265.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.56 ₾4.14

-5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$1.79 ₾4.75

217.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.23 ₾5.90

105.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.65 ₾1.73

312.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$0.68 ₾1.79

322.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.19 ₾3.16

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.70 ₾1.86

191.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 $9.95

$2.95 ₾7.82

237.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 $15.57

$7.33 ₾19.41

112.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.52 ₾4.02

52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.25 ₾5.95

111.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.36 ₾0.95

466.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.8 $60.8

$14.60 ₾38.68

316.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 $4.56

$1.50 ₾3.97

204.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.73 ₾1.92

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.48 $42.48

$7.45 ₾19.74

470.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.14 ₾3.01

-27.19%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

37.62%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$20.3K ₾53.6K

27.65%

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

$214 $214

$73.9 ₾196

189.10%

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

$50.4 $50.4

$11.71 ₾31.01

330.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$18.16 ₾48.09

311.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.5 $64.5

$61.7 ₾163

4.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.30 $30.30

$16.66 ₾44.12

81.87%

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

$6.61 ₾17.50

129.65%

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

$1,644 $1,644

$264 ₾700

522.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$5,145 ₾13.6K

384.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$74.9 ₾198

-10.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.16 $48.16

$43.98 ₾117

9.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$118 ₾312

-13.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$114 ₾301

17.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 $1,662

$692 ₾1,833

140.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 $1,457

$454 ₾1,203

220.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,032 $3,032

$1,323 ₾3,504

129.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,468 $2,468

$789 ₾2,089

212.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,427 $4,427

$2,431 ₾6,440

82.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 $2,555

$1,441 ₾3,818

77.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,499 $4,499

$645 ₾1,709

597.41%

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 Madison, WI: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Madison, WI versus $692 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 597% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $76.0 in Madison, WI versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $204 – 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

Madison, WI vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,834 in Madison, WI, $1,218 in Tbilisi – roughly 133% apart. Madison, WI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,251 per month in Madison, WI and $1,827 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 317% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,644 per month in Madison, WI and $264 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,218, than in Madison, WI at $2,834. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madison, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,218 in Tbilisi to $2,834 in Madison, WI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.