Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Chapel Hill, NC

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,242 a month against $2,569 in Chapel Hill, NC, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,242
/mo nomad
Chapel Hill, NC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,569
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Chapel Hill, NC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Chapel Hill, NC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $2,569 in Chapel Hill, NC.

  • Tbilisi $1,242
  • Chapel Hill, NC $2,569

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,962 in Tbilisi versus $4,172 in Chapel Hill, NC.

  • Tbilisi $1,962
  • Chapel Hill, NC $4,172

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,682 in Tbilisi versus $5,775 in Chapel Hill, NC.

  • Tbilisi $2,682
  • Chapel Hill, NC $5,775

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 52% less than in Chapel Hill, NC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, Chapel Hill, NC is 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 ₾28.46
$17.64 $17.64
-37.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.21 ₾99.0
$90.4 $90.4
-57.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 ₾24.84
$10.10 $10.10
-5.15%
Cappuccino
$3.59 ₾9.31
$4.86 $4.86
-26.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₾2.66
$2.02 $2.02
-49.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.64
$1.95 $1.95
-67.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ₾7.10
$5.90 $5.90
-53.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ₾8.22
$6.85 $6.85
-53.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ₾5.53
$0.89 $0.89
139.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$4.11 $4.11
-82.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.46
$5.17 $5.17
-66.73%
Eggs
$2.78 ₾7.21
$4.64 $4.64
-40.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.48 ₾24.56
$15.51 $15.51
-38.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 ₾16.71
$10.48 $10.48
-38.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 ₾33.76
$16.96 $16.96
-23.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 ₾4.37
$5.63 $5.63
-69.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.76
$1.57 $1.57
17.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₾4.90
$4.08 $4.08
-53.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 ₾6.22
$4.61 $4.61
-47.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.17
$2.60 $2.60
-67.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.75
$3.24 $3.24
-79.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.68
$2.10 $2.10
-32.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$1.98 $1.98
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 ₾9.22
$8.23 $8.23
-56.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ₾19.39
$13.86 $13.86
-46.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₾4.43
$1.67 $1.67
2.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₾5.94
$2.04 $2.04
12.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.15 ₾39.27
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$1.96 $1.96
-39.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$0.64 $0.64
21.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 ₾30.50
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₾3.65
$0.96 $0.96
46.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K ₾62.9K
$36.1K $36.1K
-32.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ₾56.3K
$24.8K $24.8K
-12.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 ₾227
$225 $225
-61.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.55
$55.1 $55.1
-75.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51 ₾50.6
$71.1 $71.1
-72.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.7 ₾168
$76.8 $76.8
-15.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 ₾48.86
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 ₾16.97
$13.32 $13.32
-50.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾978
$1,424 $1,424
-73.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$44.36 $44.36
130.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36 ₾105
$34.72 $34.72
16.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾302
$102 $102
14.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₾314
$139 $139
-12.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 ₾1,749
$1,764 $1,764
-61.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,170
$1,290 $1,290
-65.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 ₾3,305
$2,864 $2,864
-55.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 ₾2,288
$2,881 $2,881
-69.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,415 ₾6,259
$2,668 $2,668
-9.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,404 ₾3,640
$2,747 $2,747
-48.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$706 ₾1,830
$5,362 $5,362
-86.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
6.81
85.32%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
Chapel Hill, NC
$1.3K 186% $839
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$232
Chapel Hill, NC
$403 73.2% $170
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$186
Chapel Hill, NC
$289 55% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Chapel Hill, NC
$144 15.9% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$120
Chapel Hill, NC
$351 192% $231
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Chapel Hill, NC
$103 33% $26
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Chapel Hill, NC
$5.2 * 76.4% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in Tbilisi and $1,764 in Chapel Hill, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chapel Hill, NC pays 659% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $90.0 in Chapel Hill, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $403 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇺🇸 Chapel Hill, NC
🕒 Local time
22:32 10:32 PM
14:32 2:32 PM
8 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
61,960
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Chapel Hill, NC 9,670 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Chapel Hill, NC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chapel Hill, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Chapel Hill, NC?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Chapel Hill, NC. 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 in Chapel Hill, NC?
On paper, salaries run 659% lower in Chapel Hill, NC. 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 compared to Chapel Hill, NC?
Rent for a central apartment: $675 in Tbilisi versus $1,764 in Chapel Hill, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Chapel Hill, NC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Chapel Hill, NC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Chapel Hill, NC?
All in, you'll spend $1,242 per month in Tbilisi versus $2,569 in Chapel Hill, NC – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Chapel Hill, NC?
At $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $2,569 in Chapel Hill, NC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Chapel Hill, NC. 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 Chapel Hill, NC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,242 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 Chapel Hill, NC?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Chapel Hill, NC 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 107% less than in Chapel Hill, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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