Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Columbia, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Columbia, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,160 in Columbia, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $3,066 in Columbia, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $3,971 in Columbia, SC.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 44% less than in Columbia, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Columbia, SC is 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.70

$18.02 $18.02

-40.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$60.1 $60.1

-28.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.03

$11.90 $11.90

-30.34%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.96

$3.78 $3.78

-20.63%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$2.31 $2.31

-64.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$1.88 $1.88

-75.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$4.52 $4.52

-50.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$5.37 $5.37

-45.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$0.91 $0.91

112.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$2.69 $2.69

-74.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.99

$3.51 $3.51

-46.44%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.73

$4.18 $4.18

-39.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$9.66 $9.66

-23.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.43

$12.71 $12.71

-51.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.86

$22.47 $22.47

-58.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$5.01 $5.01

-75.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.75 $1.75

-5.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$5.23 $5.23

-65.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$3.13 $3.13

-28.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$3.32 $3.32

-78.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$4.60 $4.60

-85.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$1.99 $1.99

-40.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$1.88 $1.88

-64.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$8.84 $8.84

-66.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.21

$15.33 $15.33

-50.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.98

$2.72 $2.72

-17.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$2.04 $2.04

-82.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.36

$40.48 $40.48

-64.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.96

$1.96 $1.96

-23.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$1.47 $1.47

-53.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.19

$18.23 $18.23

-60.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

-38.46%

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

$20.0K ₾53.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

-21.83%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$223 $223

-66.97%

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

$11.64 ₾30.91

$53.7 $53.7

-78.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.39

$59.2 $59.2

-69.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$39.79 $39.79

51.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.63

$7.10 $7.10

136.62%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.54

$15.03 $15.03

-56.09%

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

$266 ₾708

$1,453 $1,453

-81.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$22.9K $22.9K

-77.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$54.6 $54.6

42.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$34.82 $34.82

28.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$78.0 $78.0

49.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$115 $115

-1.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,839

$1,325 $1,325

-47.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,226

$918 $918

-49.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,505

$2,217 $2,217

-40.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,056

$1,307 $1,307

-40.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,455

$2,103 $2,103

15.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,840

$1,640 $1,640

-11.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,787

$3,216 $3,216

-79.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

6.54

81.80%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Columbia, SC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,325 in Columbia, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Columbia, SC pays 378% 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 $60.0 in Columbia, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $394 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 Columbia, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Columbia, SC earns 378% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,325 in Columbia, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Columbia, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $60.0 in Columbia, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,160 in Columbia, SC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Columbia, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Columbia, SC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Columbia, SC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Columbia, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.