Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Arequipa

For one person, living is cheaper in Arequipa: $709 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Arequipa
🇵🇪 Peru
$709
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Arequipa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Arequipa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Tbilisi vs $709 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Arequipa $709

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,117 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Arequipa $1,117

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,524 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Arequipa $1,524

Tbilisi costs about 79% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tbilisi and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Arequipa 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$3.46 PEN 11.87
232.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$27.89 PEN 95.8
37.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$5.93 PEN 20.37
65.26%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$2.42 PEN 8.31
46.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$0.81 PEN 2.78
30.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.39 PEN 1.33
58.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.09 PEN 7.16
32.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$4.27 PEN 14.68
-29.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.34 PEN 4.61
61.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.36 PEN 4.66
-44.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.45 PEN 4.99
20.00%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.29 PEN 7.85
21.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$6.25 PEN 21.47
47.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$4.59 PEN 15.75
42.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$7.33 PEN 25.16
74.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.76 PEN 6.03
-5.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.18 PEN 4.05
56.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.13 PEN 3.88
75.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$0.99 PEN 3.41
153.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.67 PEN 2.29
29.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$0.67 PEN 2.31
8.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.56 PEN 1.91
153.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.76 PEN 2.60
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$5.13 PEN 17.62
-34.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$5.18 PEN 17.80
51.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$2.67 PEN 9.17
-39.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$2.30 PEN 7.90
3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.28 PEN 0.95
32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$2.02 PEN 6.92
-43.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$2.01 PEN 6.92
-60.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$13.01 PEN 44.68
-11.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.54 PEN 5.28
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$18.9K PEN 65.0K
30.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$25.1K PEN 86.3K
-11.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$23.36 PEN 80.2
277.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$10.26 PEN 35.24
27.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$23.44 PEN 80.5
-16.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$25.08 PEN 86.1
155.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$8.00 PEN 27.47
139.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$7.35 PEN 25.24
-4.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$75.3 PEN 258
395.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$6,598 PEN 22.7K
62.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$47.74 PEN 164
115.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$26.42 PEN 90.7
53.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$67.6 PEN 232
71.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$57.5 PEN 198
112.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$347 PEN 1,192
95.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$237 PEN 813
91.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$719 PEN 2,471
77.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$419 PEN 1,439
112.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$1,963 PEN 6,740
22.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$989 PEN 3,397
43.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Arequipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$619 PEN 2,125
13.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
15
-15.87%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Arequipa
$237 47.9% $218
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Arequipa
$174 25.3% $59
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Arequipa
$98 48.4% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Arequipa
$90 47.7% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Arequipa
$57 52.8% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Arequipa
$40 49.1% $38
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Arequipa
$13 * 40.3% $8.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Tbilisi versus $347 in Arequipa. 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 14% higher in Tbilisi, 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $174 – making Arequipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇵🇪 Arequipa
🕒 Local time
05:31 5:31 AM
20:31 8:31 PM
9 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
17,062
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Arequipa 13,380 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Arequipa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tbilisi vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Arequipa?
Tbilisi costs about 79% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Tbilisi and in Arequipa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Tbilisi and $1,063 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Arequipa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Arequipa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $28.00 in Arequipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Arequipa?
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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Arequipa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arequipa, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Tbilisi at $1,270. In Arequipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Arequipa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $709 versus $1,270 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Arequipa?
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 Tbilisi or to Arequipa?
If budget matters most, go with Arequipa. 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.

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