🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $3,484 in Carbondale, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $4,532 in Carbondale, IL.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 51% less than in Carbondale, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Carbondale, IL is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86₾29.20
$16.91$16.91
-35.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33₾117
$32.62$32.62
32.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25₾22.19
$8.17$8.17
0.98%
Cappuccino
$3.10₾8.33
$2.92$2.92
6.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.15
$1.98$1.98
-59.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.24
$1.46$1.46
-68.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.81
$4.47$4.47
-51.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94₾7.92
$5.34$5.34
-44.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.19
$0.80$0.80
141.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67₾1.81
$2.88$2.88
-76.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.91
$4.64$4.64
-60.78%
Eggs
$2.56₾6.88
$4.13$4.13
-38.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61₾20.48
$11.06$11.06
-31.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51₾17.50
$11.06$11.06
-41.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67₾26.00
$15.23$15.23
-36.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.12
$6.30$6.30
-81.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62₾4.36
$1.60$1.60
1.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾5.04
$5.20$5.20
-64.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.26
$4.97$4.97
-53.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.75
$4.88$4.88
-86.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63₾1.70
$3.36$3.36
-81.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.17
$2.26$2.26
-47.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.90
$2.38$2.38
-70.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04₾8.17
$7.78$7.78
-60.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27₾19.56
$14.77$14.77
-50.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.27
$1.77$1.77
-10.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₾6.18
$1.86$1.86
23.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.96
$2.02$2.02
-82.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.68₾39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾4.03
$2.03$2.03
-26.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₾1.87
$1.35$1.35
-48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35₾19.78
$19.94$19.94
-63.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₾3.05
$0.82$0.82
37.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾49.0K
$33.3K$33.3K
-45.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K₾54.5K
$27.2K$27.2K
-25.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0₾199
$121$121
-38.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87₾31.93
$60.0$60.0
-80.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55₾47.20
$30.12$30.12
-41.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾162
$43.48$43.48
38.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69₾44.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73₾18.10
$12.96$12.96
-48.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261₾703
$1,551$1,551
-83.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,146₾13.8K
$27.0K$27.0K
-80.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6₾209
$39.97$39.97
94.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾117
$32.64$32.64
33.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾318
$74.1$74.1
59.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾298
$139$139
-20.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703₾1,891
$1,576$1,576
-55.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457₾1,231
$1,352$1,352
-66.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346₾3,621
$2,600$2,600
-48.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788₾2,120
$2,233$2,233
-64.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,560₾6,885
$854$854
199.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443₾3,881
$866$866
66.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$648₾1,742
$3,901$3,901
-83.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.53
82.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026
Last update for Carbondale, IL: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $1,576 in Carbondale, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Carbondale, IL pays 502% 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 in Tbilisi vs $33 in Carbondale, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $394, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Carbondale, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Carbondale, IL?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 103% lower than in Carbondale, IL. 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 Carbondale, IL?
On paper, Carbondale, IL earns 502% less. 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 vs Carbondale, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $703 in Tbilisi versus $1,576 in Carbondale, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Carbondale, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Carbondale, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Carbondale, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,199 per month in Tbilisi versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Carbondale, IL?
At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Carbondale, IL. 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 Carbondale, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – 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 Tbilisi compared to Carbondale, IL?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Carbondale, IL 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 103% less than in Carbondale, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.