🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,796 in Burlington, IA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $2,684 in Burlington, IA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $3,572 in Burlington, IA.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 34% less than in Burlington, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Burlington, IA is 35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$11.29$11.29
-3.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$59.3$59.3
-27.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$9.07$9.07
-5.95%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$5.37$5.37
-44.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$2.06$2.06
-60.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$1.97$1.97
-78.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$3.55$3.55
-39.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$4.60$4.60
-37.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$0.87$0.87
122.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$2.62$2.62
-74.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$8.20$8.20
-77.44%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$2.98$2.98
-15.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$14.61$14.61
-48.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$12.85$12.85
-51.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$15.19$15.19
-36.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$5.12$5.12
-77.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.88$1.88
-12.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$4.84$4.84
-61.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$5.18$5.18
-56.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$2.97$2.97
-76.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$2.46$2.46
-73.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$1.83$1.83
-35.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$2.39$2.39
-70.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$9.08$9.08
-67.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$12.10$12.10
-38.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.74$1.74
-11.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$4.04$4.04
-43.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$1.64$1.64
-78.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$20.83$20.83
-29.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$3.41$3.41
-58.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$1.60$1.60
-56.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$29.49$29.49
-75.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$0.90$0.90
21.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$23.0K$23.0K
-20.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$23.6K$23.6K
-13.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$173$173
-56.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$52.3$52.3
-77.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$51.0$51.0
-65.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$49.43$49.43
21.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$11.16$11.16
-41.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$709$709
-62.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$23.4K$23.4K
-77.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$44.75$44.75
72.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$30.52$30.52
42.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$66.0$66.0
79.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$37.89$37.89
197.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$642$642
10.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$671$671
-30.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$1,037$1,037
26.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$1,174$1,174
-34.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$1,022$1,022
143.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$1,038$1,038
38.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Burlington, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$4,456$4,456
-85.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.52
82.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Last update for Burlington, IA: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $642 in Burlington, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Burlington, IA pays 572% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $59.0 in Burlington, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $406 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
Tbilisi vs Burlington, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Burlington, IA?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Burlington, IA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Burlington, IA?
On paper, salaries run 572% lower in Burlington, IA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Burlington, IA?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $642 in Burlington, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Burlington, IA?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $709 in Burlington, IA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Burlington, IA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Burlington, IA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Burlington, IA?
At $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,796 in Burlington, IA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Burlington, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Burlington, IA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,191 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Burlington, IA?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Burlington, IA 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 – expenses run 51% less than in Burlington, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.