Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Cartago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $833 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,287 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,740 in Cartago, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 46% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Cartago 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$3.67 COP 12.8K

195.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$28.98 COP 101.1K

52.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

$7.14 COP 24.9K

15.97%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$1.65 COP 5,749

83.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.87 COP 3,031

-12.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.61 COP 2,113

-24.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$1.06 COP 3,696

111.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$2.59 COP 9,026

15.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.23 COP 4,305

56.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$1.53 COP 5,327

-52.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$1.22 COP 4,247

50.82%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$2.58 COP 9,011

-5.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$4.22 COP 14.7K

76.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$5.53 COP 19.3K

17.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$7.58 COP 26.5K

27.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$2.40 COP 8,368

-50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$0.90 COP 3,130

73.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$1.20 COP 4,189

49.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$1.32 COP 4,604

68.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$0.83 COP 2,896

-21.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.07 COP 3,726

-36.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$0.76 COP 2,643

56.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.70 COP 2,455

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$2.81 COP 9,823

4.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$11.80 COP 41.2K

-37.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$1.08 COP 3,768

40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$1.95 COP 6,796

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.67 COP 2,322

-46.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

$30.31 COP 105.8K

-51.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$1.55 COP 5,403

-3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$1.99 COP 6,936

-63.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$9.47 COP 33.0K

-21.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$0.98 COP 3,406

16.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$21.7K COP 75.7M

-14.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$29.6K COP 103.5M

-31.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.9 ₾196

$83.4 COP 290.9K

-11.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.71 ₾31.01

$8.71 COP 30.4K

34.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$24.88 COP 86.8K

-27.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$23.13 COP 80.7K

166.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

$4.78 COP 16.7K

38.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$264 ₾700

$228 COP 796.3K

15.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$5,939 COP 20.7M

-13.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$64.1 COP 223.8K

16.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$43.98 COP 153.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$77.7 COP 271.3K

51.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$90.0 COP 314.0K

26.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$279 COP 973.3K

148.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$234 COP 817.8K

93.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$539 COP 1.9M

145.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$434 COP 1.5M

81.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

$1,602 COP 5.6M

51.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

$1,302 COP 4.5M

10.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

$324 COP 1.1M

99.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

11.58

2.68%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $279 in Cartago. 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 99% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $184 – making Cartago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,250 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $833 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 108% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $833, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Cartago. 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.