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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $839 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,282 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,725 in Cartago, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 42% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Cartago 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$3.71 COP 11.7K

194.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$29.46 COP 92.8K

46.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

$7.24 COP 22.8K

17.82%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$1.65 COP 5,179

81.21%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.87 COP 2,753

-6.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.61 COP 1,913

-31.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$1.01 COP 3,193

113.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$2.47 COP 7,774

16.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.29 COP 4,052

50.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.54 COP 4,847

-55.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$1.21 COP 3,821

52.89%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$2.47 COP 7,786

2.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

$4.13 COP 13.0K

82.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$5.58 COP 17.6K

12.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$7.79 COP 24.5K

23.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.45 COP 7,726

-52.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$0.97 COP 3,068

69.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$1.16 COP 3,650

62.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$1.27 COP 4,004

75.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.83 COP 2,598

-15.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$1.05 COP 3,315

-39.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$0.71 COP 2,250

66.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.68 COP 2,149

2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$2.84 COP 8,949

4.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$12.78 COP 40.2K

-41.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.12 COP 3,522

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$1.91 COP 6,018

19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.69 COP 2,167

-47.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

$30.38 COP 95.7K

-51.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$1.59 COP 5,017

-10.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$1.91 COP 6,011

-63.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$9.72 COP 30.6K

-25.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$0.93 COP 2,927

17.20%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

$21.7K COP 68.3M

-15.48%

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

$29.5K COP 93.0M

-30.63%

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

$74.4 ₾195

$81.3 COP 256.0K

-8.55%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$8.61 COP 27.1K

36.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$24.85 COP 78.3K

-29.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$23.75 COP 74.8K

153.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

$4.75 COP 15.0K

37.05%

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

$269 ₾704

$229 COP 721.5K

17.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

$6,018 COP 18.9M

-14.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

$64.6 COP 203.4K

19.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

$44.43 COP 139.9K

-2.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

$77.8 COP 245.0K

52.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$89.4 COP 281.3K

26.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$285 COP 896.6K

149.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$234 COP 736.3K

98.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$529 COP 1.7M

148.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$431 COP 1.4M

78.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

$2,040 COP 6.4M

22.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

$1,273 COP 4.0M

13.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$360 COP 1.1M

83.96%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $285 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 84% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $186 – 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 42%, 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 $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $1,258 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 $1,191 in Tbilisi and $839 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 106% 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 $839, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. 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.