🙂A single person spends $775 per month in Popayan vs $1,185 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,180 per month in Popayan vs $1,834 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,586 per month in Popayan vs $2,483 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂Popayan is about 35% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Popayan and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Popayan42% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.83COP 13.9K
$11.15₾30.00
-65.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.38COP 85.0K
$43.13₾116
-45.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.36COP 26.8K
$8.22₾22.11
-10.46%
Cappuccino
$1.56COP 5,689
$3.13₾8.42
-50.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 3,110
$0.74₾2.00
16.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56COP 2,049
$0.45₾1.22
24.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16COP 4,216
$2.13₾5.74
-45.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12COP 7,709
$2.99₾8.06
-29.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,986
$1.89₾5.09
-41.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COP 4,692
$0.73₾1.97
76.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,108
$1.85₾4.98
-38.92%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,851
$2.45₾6.58
-11.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.46COP 16.2K
$7.85₾21.12
-43.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.24COP 19.1K
$6.25₾16.82
-16.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.25COP 26.4K
$9.77₾26.28
-25.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56COP 9,320
$1.21₾3.26
111.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,019
$1.59₾4.28
-30.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29COP 4,707
$1.79₾4.81
-27.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86COP 3,141
$2.32₾6.25
-62.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,045
$0.71₾1.91
56.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,062
$0.67₾1.81
67.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 3,015
$1.18₾3.16
-29.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70COP 2,529
$0.71₾1.92
-1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32COP 8,445
$2.92₾7.85
-20.55%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.25₾19.50
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,949
$1.55₾4.17
-29.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 6,321
$2.31₾6.21
-24.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72COP 2,607
$0.38₾1.03
89.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.48COP 110.9K
$14.81₾39.83
105.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,229
$1.48₾3.98
-2.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66COP 6,021
$0.69₾1.86
140.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18COP 22.5K
$7.45₾20.05
-17.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00COP 3,631
$1.15₾3.10
-13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 64.2M
$18.0K₾48.4K
-1.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KCOP 92.2M
$19.8K₾53.4K
27.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.6COP 300.5K
$73.4₾198
12.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.95COP 32.5K
$11.64₾31.32
-23.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.10COP 84.0K
$17.77₾47.79
29.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.84COP 86.7K
$60.6₾163
-60.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96COP 14.4K
$6.51₾17.52
-39.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$242COP 879.9K
$263₾707
-7.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,882COP 21.4M
$5,136₾13.8K
14.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 211.2K
$77.7₾209
-25.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.72COP 119.0K
$44.39₾119
-26.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.9COP 305.2K
$118₾317
-28.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5COP 267.4K
$114₾307
-35.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284COP 1.0M
$693₾1,865
-59.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242COP 880.6K
$462₾1,244
-47.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$520COP 1.9M
$1,337₾3,597
-61.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$428COP 1.6M
$779₾2,096
-45.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,530₾6,805
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,430₾3,847
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Popayan
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$633₾1,702
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.18
11.89
10.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Popayan: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Popayan versus $693 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Popayan versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $206 – making Popayan 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
Popayan vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Popayan and Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $775 in Popayan, $1,185 in Tbilisi – roughly 53% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Popayan compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,162 per month in Popayan and $1,777 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Popayan and Tbilisi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Popayan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Popayan and Tbilisi?
Kindergarten costs $242 per month in Popayan and $263 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Popayan, where all-in costs run around $775, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Popayan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Popayan and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $775 in Popayan to $1,185 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Popayan or Tbilisi safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Popayan and Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with Popayan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.