😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,143 in Scarborough versus $1,286 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,019 in Scarborough versus $2,044 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,895 in Scarborough versus $2,802 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Scarborough is roughly 67% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Scarborough is 56% above, Tbilisi is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.37£11.37
$11.72₾30.55
31.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9£52.4
$37.88₾98.8
87.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.73£7.94
$9.74₾25.41
10.16%
Cappuccino
$3.63£2.69
$3.41₾8.90
6.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07£1.54
$1.06₾2.76
95.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99£0.73
$0.65₾1.69
52.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.37£3.23
$2.70₾7.05
61.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28£3.16
$3.10₾8.08
38.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32£0.97
$2.20₾5.73
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45£1.08
$0.81₾2.10
79.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06£0.79
$1.64₾4.26
-35.37%
Eggs
$3.79£2.80
$2.75₾7.18
37.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99£5.91
$9.01₾23.50
-11.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.19£5.32
$6.55₾17.09
9.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.00£10.35
$12.62₾32.91
10.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37£2.49
$1.67₾4.36
101.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13£1.58
$1.81₾4.73
17.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72£2.01
$1.93₾5.03
40.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14£1.58
$2.59₾6.76
-17.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77£1.31
$0.87₾2.26
103.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$0.65₾1.68
147.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17£0.86
$1.39₾3.63
-15.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95£1.45
$0.80₾2.08
143.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.75£16.83
$3.36₾8.78
577.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.43£6.98
$7.54₾19.66
25.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.67£2.71
$1.61₾4.21
127.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63£2.68
$2.25₾5.86
61.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45£2.55
$0.37₾0.96
832.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.5£66.2
$15.11₾39.41
492.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.75£4.25
$1.17₾3.05
391.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.99£3.69
$0.80₾2.09
523.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.03£25.18
$11.33₾29.55
200.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96£1.45
$1.33₾3.47
47.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K£27.0K
$25.0K₾65.2K
46.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K£29.9K
$22.4K₾58.4K
80.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$353£261
$89.1₾232
296.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.91£19.17
$13.25₾34.55
95.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.04£25.18
$19.46₾50.8
74.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.1£49.65
$68.4₾178
-1.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.91£9.55
$18.68₾48.73
-30.89%
Cinema Ticket
$10.88£8.05
$6.63₾17.30
64.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,720£1,273
$363₾948
373.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.7K₾27.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3£51.2
$104₾270
-33.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66£26.38
$38.84₾101
-8.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110£81.1
$117₾304
-5.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129£95.7
$123₾320
5.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$892£660
$682₾1,780
30.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$832£616
$447₾1,165
86.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522£1,126
$1,284₾3,349
18.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,224£905
$920₾2,399
33.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,487₾6,486
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,423₾3,711
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Scarborough
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,072£1,533
$646₾1,684
220.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.53
12.73
-56.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Scarborough: August 30, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $892 in Scarborough and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Scarborough pays 221% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Scarborough vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $232 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
Scarborough vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Scarborough and in Tbilisi?
Scarborough and Tbilisi differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($2,143 vs $1,286 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Scarborough or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 221% higher in Scarborough, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Scarborough and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $892 in Scarborough versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Scarborough and in Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 492% less than in Scarborough. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Scarborough and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $1,720 in Scarborough versus $363 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $2,143 in Scarborough, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Scarborough. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Scarborough 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 Scarborough or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Scarborough 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: Scarborough or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Scarborough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Scarborough vs other spots: cost of living compared