😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,538 in Merrillville, IN versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,712 in Merrillville, IN versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,886 in Merrillville, IN versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Merrillville, IN is roughly 114% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Merrillville, IN is 90% above, Tbilisi is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.55$18.55
$11.15₾30.00
66.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.0$65.0
$43.13₾116
50.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.08$10.08
$8.22₾22.11
22.63%
Cappuccino
$5.08$5.08
$3.13₾8.42
62.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06$3.06
$0.74₾2.00
313.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$0.45₾1.22
377.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.93$4.93
$2.13₾5.74
131.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92$6.92
$2.99₾8.06
131.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.89₾5.09
-58.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46$3.46
$0.73₾1.97
373.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.48$4.48
$1.85₾4.98
142.16%
Eggs
$4.32$4.32
$2.45₾6.58
76.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.04$10.04
$7.85₾21.12
27.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.50$12.50
$6.25₾16.82
100.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.37$15.37
$9.77₾26.28
57.32%
Apples(1kg)
$5.78$5.78
$1.21₾3.26
377.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16$1.16
$1.59₾4.28
-27.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.63$4.63
$1.79₾4.81
158.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$2.32₾6.25
107.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10$2.10
$0.71₾1.91
195.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12$2.12
$0.67₾1.81
216.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01$2.01
$1.18₾3.16
70.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.71$2.71
$0.71₾1.92
281.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.42$10.42
$2.92₾7.85
256.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86$11.86
$7.25₾19.50
63.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80$1.80
$1.55₾4.17
16.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45$3.45
$2.31₾6.21
49.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.38₾1.03
436.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.81₾39.83
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.75$2.75
$1.48₾3.98
85.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.21$2.21
$0.69₾1.86
220.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.61$20.61
$7.45₾20.05
176.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$1.15₾3.10
-29.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K$30.2K
$18.0K₾48.4K
67.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$19.8K₾53.4K
32.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186$186
$73.4₾198
153.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.87$48.87
$11.64₾31.32
319.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8$64.8
$17.77₾47.79
264.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.54$42.54
$60.6₾163
-29.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.60$14.60
$6.51₾17.52
124.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,834$1,834
$263₾707
598.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.3K$24.3K
$5,136₾13.8K
373.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.67$42.67
$77.7₾209
-45.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66$45.66
$44.39₾119
2.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.9$78.9
$118₾317
-32.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$114₾307
-8.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,590$1,590
$693₾1,865
129.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,328$1,328
$462₾1,244
187.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,623$2,623
$1,337₾3,597
96.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,220$2,220
$779₾2,096
184.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,048$3,048
$2,530₾6,805
20.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,541$2,541
$1,430₾3,847
77.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merrillville, IN
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$633₾1,702
-
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 Merrillville, IN: April 28, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,590 in Merrillville, IN and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Merrillville, IN vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 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
Merrillville, IN vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Merrillville, IN and Tbilisi?
Merrillville, IN and Tbilisi differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($2,538 vs $1,185 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Merrillville, IN compared to Tbilisi?
You'd need roughly $3,807 in Merrillville, IN and $1,777 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Merrillville, IN and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,590 in Merrillville, IN versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 88% higher in Merrillville, IN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Merrillville, IN or Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $2,538 per month in Merrillville, IN versus $1,185 in Tbilisi – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,538 in Merrillville, IN, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Merrillville, IN. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Merrillville, IN and Tbilisi?
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.
Is Merrillville, IN or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Merrillville, IN 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.
Where should expats move: Merrillville, IN or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Merrillville, IN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Merrillville, IN vs other spots: cost of living compared