Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,856 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,197 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,538 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Raleigh, NC costs about 136% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Raleigh, NC sits 113% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$10.80 β‚Ύ28.71
82.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6 $73.6
$43.18 β‚Ύ115
70.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.90 $9.90
$8.29 β‚Ύ22.04
19.42%
Cappuccino
$5.32 $5.32
$3.00 β‚Ύ7.97
77.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$0.82 β‚Ύ2.17
178.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.46 β‚Ύ1.21
347.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.68 $5.68
$2.23 β‚Ύ5.93
154.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 $5.92
$2.92 β‚Ύ7.75
102.74%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.93 β‚Ύ5.12
-55.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.20 $4.20
$0.68 β‚Ύ1.81
517.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.88 β‚Ύ5.00
68.09%
Eggs
$4.70 $4.70
$2.54 β‚Ύ6.74
85.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.65 $13.65
$7.42 β‚Ύ19.70
83.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$6.19 β‚Ύ16.44
86.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$9.36 β‚Ύ24.87
74.57%
Apples (1kg)
$6.80 $6.80
$1.22 β‚Ύ3.25
457.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.66 β‚Ύ4.40
-11.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$1.80 β‚Ύ4.78
222.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.08 $6.08
$2.24 β‚Ύ5.96
171.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 $3.59
$0.71 β‚Ύ1.89
405.63%
Onion (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$0.67 β‚Ύ1.79
517.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.18 β‚Ύ3.13
83.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.66 β‚Ύ1.76
228.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.65 $7.65
$2.98 β‚Ύ7.91
156.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.24 $15.24
$7.61 β‚Ύ20.22
100.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.54 β‚Ύ4.08
32.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 $3.12
$2.25 β‚Ύ5.99
38.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.36 β‚Ύ0.95
463.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.10 $45.10
$14.44 β‚Ύ38.38
212.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.49 β‚Ύ3.97
69.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$0.68 β‚Ύ1.82
152.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.02 $15.02
$7.23 β‚Ύ19.20
107.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.14 β‚Ύ3.04
-30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$18.5K β‚Ύ49.1K
60.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$20.0K β‚Ύ53.1K
32.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$73.7 β‚Ύ196
150.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.6 $64.6
$11.64 β‚Ύ30.92
454.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6 $69.6
$17.84 β‚Ύ47.41
290.30%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.48 $40.48
$60.1 β‚Ύ160
-32.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.46 $33.46
$16.80 β‚Ύ44.65
99.17%
Cinema Ticket
$14.96 $14.96
$6.60 β‚Ύ17.55
126.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,496 $1,496
$266 β‚Ύ708
461.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$5,191 β‚Ύ13.8K
369.01%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 $50.9
$77.7 β‚Ύ206
-34.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.51 $47.51
$44.75 β‚Ύ119
6.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$117 β‚Ύ310
-12.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$113 β‚Ύ300
24.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,846 $1,846
$693 β‚Ύ1,840
166.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 $1,592
$462 β‚Ύ1,227
244.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,962 $2,962
$1,320 β‚Ύ3,507
124.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,426 $2,426
$774 β‚Ύ2,057
213.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,863 $3,863
$2,430 β‚Ύ6,458
58.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,225 $2,225
$1,446 β‚Ύ3,842
53.91%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Raleigh, NC
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,309 $4,309
$673 β‚Ύ1,788
540.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
11.89
-45.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Raleigh, NC: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,846 in Raleigh, NC 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.

Salaries run about 540% higher in Raleigh, NC, 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 $74.0 in Raleigh, NC versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $427 vs $203 – 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
Raleigh, NC vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Raleigh, NC or Tbilisi?
Raleigh, NC costs about 136% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Raleigh, NC vs Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,284 per month in Raleigh, NC and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Raleigh, NC or Tbilisi?
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 expensive is transport in Raleigh, NC vs Tbilisi?
Public transport costs about 212% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Raleigh, NC and Tbilisi?
Kindergarten costs $1,496 per month in Raleigh, NC and $266 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Raleigh, NC or Tbilisi?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Raleigh, NC at $2,856. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Raleigh, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Raleigh, NC or Tbilisi?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,209 versus $2,856 in Raleigh, NC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Raleigh, NC compared to 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Raleigh, NC or Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Raleigh, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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