๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,544 in Rock Island, IL versus $1,199 in Tbilisi.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,773 in Rock Island, IL versus $1,833 in Tbilisi.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,002 in Rock Island, IL versus $2,466 in Tbilisi.
๐Living in Rock Island, IL is roughly 112% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Rock Island, IL is 90% above, Tbilisi is 11% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.72$15.72
$10.86โพ29.20
44.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.4$91.4
$43.33โพ117
110.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.91$11.91
$8.25โพ22.19
44.36%
Cappuccino
$6.17$6.17
$3.10โพ8.33
99.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68$2.68
$0.80โพ2.15
235.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$0.46โพ1.24
386.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.09$5.09
$2.16โพ5.81
135.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85$6.85
$2.94โพ7.92
132.99%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.93โพ5.19
-49.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53$2.53
$0.67โพ1.81
277.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17$2.17
$1.82โพ4.91
19.23%
Eggs
$3.65$3.65
$2.56โพ6.88
42.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86$12.86
$7.61โพ20.48
68.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.95$14.95
$6.51โพ17.50
129.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.58$18.58
$9.67โพ26.00
92.14%
Apples(1kg)
$4.59$4.59
$1.16โพ3.12
295.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$1.62โพ4.36
-0.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62$3.62
$1.87โพ5.04
93.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43$3.43
$2.33โพ6.26
47.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60$1.60
$0.65โพ1.75
146.15%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06$3.06
$0.63โพ1.70
385.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.44$2.44
$1.18โพ3.17
106.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08$1.08
$0.70โพ1.90
54.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.92$8.92
$3.04โพ8.17
193.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.95$14.95
$7.27โพ19.56
105.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68$1.68
$1.59โพ4.27
5.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05$4.05
$2.30โพ6.18
76.09%
๐ Getting Around
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$0.36โพ0.96
447.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.68โพ39.48
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06$2.06
$1.50โพ4.03
37.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$0.70โพ1.87
132.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.82$19.82
$7.35โพ19.78
169.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.13โพ3.05
-25.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$18.2Kโพ49.0K
42.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K$24.5K
$20.2Kโพ54.5K
20.96%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147$147
$74.0โพ199
98.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1$51.1
$11.87โพ31.93
330.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.1$75.1
$17.55โพ47.20
327.69%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.86$42.86
$60.3โพ162
-28.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.69โพ44.89
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.90$14.90
$6.73โพ18.10
121.40%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,380$1,380
$261โพ703
428.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K$12.0K
$5,146โพ13.8K
132.82%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1$64.1
$77.6โพ209
-17.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.58$49.58
$43.48โพ117
14.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.8$71.8
$118โพ318
-39.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142$142
$111โพ298
28.18%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,632$1,632
$703โพ1,891
132.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,340$1,340
$457โพ1,231
192.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,608$2,608
$1,346โพ3,621
93.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,213$2,213
$788โพ2,120
180.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,946$2,946
$2,560โพ6,885
15.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,345$2,345
$1,443โพ3,881
62.56%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rock Island, IL
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$648โพ1,742
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
11.89
-44.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rock Island, IL: April 22, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,632 in Rock Island, IL and $703 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $91 in Rock Island, IL vs $43 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 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
Rock Island, IL vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rock Island, IL or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost โ living expenses run 112% lower than in Rock Island, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rock Island, IL vs Tbilisi?
You'd need roughly $3,816 in Rock Island, IL and $1,799 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rock Island, IL vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,632 in Rock Island, IL versus $703 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rock Island, IL or Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 80% higher in Rock Island, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Rock Island, IL compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $2,544 per month in Rock Island, IL versus $1,199 in Tbilisi โ a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rock Island, IL or Tbilisi?
At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $2,544 in Rock Island, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Rock Island, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rock Island, IL or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,199 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Rock Island, IL compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Rock Island, IL 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 112% less than in Rock Island, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rock Island, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared