Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and CuencaCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Cuenca
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $891 in Cuenca, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,325 in Cuenca, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,759 in Cuenca, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 36% more than Cuenca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Cuenca34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$3.40$3.40
217.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$24.57$24.57
75.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$7.13$7.13
16.27%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$2.48$2.48
20.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.83$0.83
-1.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.70$0.70
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.98$1.98
12.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.58$3.58
-18.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.13$1.13
70.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.61$1.61
-57.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.53$1.53
22.88%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.09$2.09
21.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$5.43$5.43
36.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$5.48$5.48
12.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$6.25$6.25
49.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.47$1.47
-17.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.05$1.05
58.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.23$1.23
46.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.06$1.06
111.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.53$1.53
-53.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.06$1.06
-36.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.46$0.46
156.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.04$1.04
-36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$5.70$5.70
-47.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$10.33$10.33
-26.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.43$1.43
7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$3.30$3.30
-31.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.33$0.33
9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$26.98$26.98
-46.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$0.68$0.68
119.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.99$0.99
-31.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$13.64$13.64
-46.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.63$0.63
80.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$30.4K$30.4K
-39.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$28.3K$28.3K
-29.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$39.61$39.61
86.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$13.71$13.71
-15.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$31.29$31.29
-42.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$29.47$29.47
104.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$5.30$5.30
216.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$7.46$7.46
-11.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$250$250
6.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$5,599$5,599
-7.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$55.2$55.2
40.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$54.5$54.5
-17.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$99.7$99.7
17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$65.6$65.6
72.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$370$370
87.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$325$325
42.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$674$674
95.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$503$503
53.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$1,245$1,245
95.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$827$827
74.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$537$537
25.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
11.48
3.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cuenca: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $370 in Cuenca. 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 25% 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 $25.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $184 – making Cuenca 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 Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuenca cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,336 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cuenca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Cuenca?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $25.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Cuenca?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $891 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Cuenca?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cuenca, where all-in costs run around $891, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Cuenca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Cuenca more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cuenca – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Cuenca?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cuenca. 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.