🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,256 in Carolina.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,944 in Carolina.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,633 in Carolina.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 6% less than in Carolina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Carolina6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$17.01$17.01
-34.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$80.3$80.3
-46.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$9.46$9.46
-13.11%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$3.27$3.27
-4.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.70$1.70
-56.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.38$1.38
-67.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$3.06$3.06
-30.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.92$3.92
-23.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$2.37$2.37
-20.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$3.48$3.48
-79.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$2.27$2.27
-18.50%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$5.74$5.74
-57.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.66$8.66
-9.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$8.55$8.55
-26.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$12.88$12.88
-24.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$5.85$5.85
-79.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.61$2.61
-39.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$3.80$3.80
-52.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$4.04$4.04
-42.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$4.03$4.03
-82.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$3.03$3.03
-77.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$2.98$2.98
-60.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.89$1.89
-62.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$11.13$11.13
-73.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.47$2.47
-37.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.17$3.17
-27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.77$0.77
-50.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.53$1.53
-54.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$14.83$14.83
-49.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.13$1.13
1.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$35.5K$35.5K
-49.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$26.1K$26.1K
-24.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$321$321
-77.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$80.4$80.4
-85.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$71.4$71.4
-75.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$11.30$11.30
436.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$11.68$11.68
-44.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$471$471
-44.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$10.4K$10.4K
-50.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$45.10$45.10
72.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$56.0$56.0
-20.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$91.7$91.7
28.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$107$107
6.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$446$446
55.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$1,792$1,792
-25.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Carolina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$1,708$1,708
-62.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.71
108.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Carolina: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $446 in Carolina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Carolina pays 170% 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 $80.0 in Carolina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $350 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 Carolina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Carolina?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Carolina. 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 Carolina?
On paper, Carolina earns 170% 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 Carolina?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $446 in Carolina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Carolina?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $471 in Carolina. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Carolina?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $80.0 in Carolina. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Carolina?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,256 in Carolina, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Carolina. 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 Carolina?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,185 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 Carolina?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Carolina 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 6% less than in Carolina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.