🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,462 in Chelmsford.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $3,898 in Chelmsford.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $5,334 in Chelmsford.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 51% less than in Chelmsford, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Chelmsford is 84% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$20.20£15.05
-46.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$82.1£61.2
-47.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$9.40£7.00
-11.81%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$4.54£3.38
-33.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$3.01£2.24
-72.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.88£1.40
-75.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$7.40£5.51
-69.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$6.39£4.76
-54.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.71£1.28
12.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.91£1.42
-64.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.89£1.41
-0.53%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$3.57£2.66
-28.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$9.68£7.21
-23.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$9.39£7.00
-34.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$16.48£12.27
-43.20%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.39£1.78
-48.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.26£0.94
31.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$3.43£2.56
-47.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$4.81£3.58
-53.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.63£1.21
-56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.33£0.99
-49.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.15£0.86
2.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.66£1.24
-60.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$19.18£14.29
-84.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$12.21£9.09
-37.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.84£2.11
-45.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$3.71£2.77
-39.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$4.06£3.03
-91.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$71.5£53.2
-79.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$4.80£3.57
-68.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$1.68£1.25
-59.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$26.68£19.87
-72.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.94£1.44
-41.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$35.6K£26.5K
-48.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$38.0K£28.3K
-47.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$206£154
-64.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$15.29£11.39
-23.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$35.30£26.29
-49.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$52.7£39.25
14.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$13.41£9.99
-50.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$1,386£1,032
-80.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$12.7K£9,460
-59.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$103£77.0
-24.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$42.94£31.98
4.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$114£84.8
2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$120£89.2
-5.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$1,445£1,077
-52.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$1,232£918
-62.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$2,760£2,056
-52.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$2,562£1,908
-69.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chelmsford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$3,245£2,417
-79.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.73
107.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chelmsford: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,445 in Chelmsford. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chelmsford pays 382% 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 $82.0 in Chelmsford for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $319 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 Chelmsford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Chelmsford?
Tbilisi and Chelmsford differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $2,462 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Chelmsford earns 382% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Chelmsford?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,445 in Chelmsford. 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 Chelmsford?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $1,386 in Chelmsford. 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 57% higher in Chelmsford. 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,462 in Chelmsford, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Chelmsford. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Chelmsford?
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 Chelmsford safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Chelmsford. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.