Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Carlton Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Carlton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,166 in Carlton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $3,100 in Carlton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $4,034 in Carlton.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 45% less than in Carlton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Carlton is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$19.76 A$27.67
-43.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$65.7 A$92.0
-34.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$9.48 A$13.28
-13.29%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$2.75 A$3.84
13.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$2.46 A$3.44
-69.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$1.89 A$2.65
-76.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$6.11 A$8.55
-65.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$6.25 A$8.74
-52.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.06 A$1.49
78.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.76 A$2.47
-58.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.59 A$2.22
16.35%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$2.98 A$4.17
-17.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$9.01 A$12.62
-12.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$9.53 A$13.34
-34.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$14.61 A$20.46
-33.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$3.32 A$4.65
-63.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$2.57 A$3.59
-38.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$2.99 A$4.19
-40.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$3.94 A$5.52
-41.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$2.29 A$3.21
-69.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$2.12 A$2.96
-68.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$2.16 A$3.02
-45.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$1.33 A$1.87
-46.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$28.38 A$39.74
-89.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$10.72 A$15.01
-32.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$4.50 A$6.30
-65.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$5.08 A$7.11
-54.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$2.86 A$4.01
-86.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$51.7 A$72.4
-71.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$3.66 A$5.12
-59.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.33 A$1.86
-48.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$24.30 A$34.02
-69.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.18 A$1.65
-2.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$23.4K A$32.8K
-23.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$13.0K A$18.2K
52.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$74.5 A$104
-1.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$20.74 A$29.04
-43.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$43.22 A$60.5
-58.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$45.79 A$64.1
32.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$17.87 A$25.02
-8.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$11.51 A$16.11
-43.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$1,209 A$1,693
-78.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$11.6K A$16.2K
-55.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$68.2 A$95.5
13.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$53.3 A$74.6
-16.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$75.1 A$105
56.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$104 A$146
9.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$1,303 A$1,824
-46.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$1,119 A$1,566
-58.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,970 A$2,758
-32.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$1,619 A$2,267
-51.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$6,695 A$9,373
-62.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$4,849 A$6,789
-70.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Carlton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$5,923 A$8,292
-89.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6.19
92.08%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Carlton: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,303 in Carlton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carlton pays 836% 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 $66.0 in Carlton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $319 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 Carlton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Carlton?
Tbilisi and Carlton differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $2,166 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Carlton earns 836% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Carlton?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,303 in Carlton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Carlton?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $1,209 in Carlton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Carlton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,166 in Carlton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Carlton. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Carlton?
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 Tbilisi or Carlton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Carlton 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: Tbilisi or Carlton?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Carlton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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