😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $577 in Caruaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $952 in Caruaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $1,326 in Caruaru.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 108% more expensive than Caruaru, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Caruaru57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86₾29.20
$4.50R$22.37
141.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33₾117
$27.38R$136
58.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25₾22.19
$6.37R$31.64
29.51%
Cappuccino
$3.10₾8.33
$1.60R$7.95
93.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.15
$0.92R$4.58
-13.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.24
$0.35R$1.72
31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.81
$1.06R$5.25
103.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94₾7.92
$1.45R$7.23
102.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.19
$1.15R$5.74
67.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.98R$4.87
-31.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.91
$0.93R$4.61
95.70%
Eggs
$2.56₾6.88
$2.48R$12.31
3.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61₾20.48
$3.57R$17.75
113.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51₾17.50
$2.63R$13.07
147.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67₾26.00
$6.21R$30.85
55.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.12
$1.29R$6.40
-10.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62₾4.36
$0.85R$4.23
90.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾5.04
$0.77R$3.85
142.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.26
$0.99R$4.91
135.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.75
$0.77R$3.85
-15.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63₾1.70
$0.88R$4.36
-28.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.17
$0.38R$1.87
210.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.90
$0.57R$2.81
22.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04₾8.17
$2.68R$13.31
13.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27₾19.56
$2.94R$14.63
147.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.27
$1.45R$7.20
9.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₾6.18
$2.99R$14.85
-23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.96
$0.82R$4.08
-56.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.68₾39.48
$24.56R$122
-40.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾4.03
$1.82R$9.06
-17.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₾1.87
$0.63R$3.11
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35₾19.78
$2.69R$13.38
173.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₾3.05
$0.78R$3.87
44.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾49.0K
$19.2KR$95.6K
-5.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K₾54.5K
$28.4KR$141.1K
-28.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0₾199
$51.7R$257
43.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87₾31.93
$7.08R$35.18
67.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55₾47.20
$8.95R$44.50
96.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾162
$13.43R$66.8
349.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69₾44.89
$27.26R$135
-38.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73₾18.10
$6.37R$31.65
5.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261₾703
$98.8R$491
164.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,146₾13.8K
$6,275R$31.2K
-17.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6₾209
$36.26R$180
113.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾117
$45.22R$225
-3.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾318
$110R$548
7.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾298
$58.5R$291
89.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703₾1,891
$149R$741
371.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457₾1,231
$118R$585
288.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346₾3,621
$319R$1,583
322.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788₾2,120
$230R$1,142
242.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,560₾6,885
$1,725R$8,573
48.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443₾3,881
$1,192R$5,926
21.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Caruaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$648₾1,742
$268R$1,330
142.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
10
18.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026
Last update for Caruaru: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $149 in Caruaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 142% 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 $27 in Caruaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $129 per month, with Caruaru 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 Caruaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Caruaru?
Tbilisi and Caruaru differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($1,199 vs $577 including rent). Caruaru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Caruaru?
Tbilisi pays 142% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Caruaru?
Rent for a central apartment: $703 in Tbilisi versus $149 in Caruaru. 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 Caruaru?
Childcare runs $261 in Tbilisi versus $98.8 in Caruaru. 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 60% higher in Tbilisi. 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 $577 in Caruaru versus $1,199 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Caruaru but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Caruaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Caruaru?
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 Caruaru safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Caruaru 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 Caruaru?
Expats usually find Caruaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.