Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Elgin, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Elgin, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,049 in Elgin, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $2,589 in Elgin, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $4,129 in Elgin, IL.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 22% more expensive than in Elgin, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 7% lower, Elgin, IL 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$19.61 $19.61

-41.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$60.6 $60.6

-36.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$10.05 $10.05

-6.47%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$4.01 $4.01

-15.71%

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

$1.04 ₾2.70

$3.05 $3.05

-65.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$1.98 $1.98

-69.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$6.02 $6.02

-54.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$4.96 $4.96

-38.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$0.87 $0.87

160.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$3.63 $3.63

-78.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$4.88 $4.88

-66.80%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$3.92 $3.92

-30.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$11.21 $11.21

-17.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$13.42 $13.42

-49.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$12.00 $12.00

8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$4.43 $4.43

-62.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$1.34 $1.34

36.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$2.59 $2.59

-26.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$4.20 $4.20

-38.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$1.93 $1.93

-56.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$2.00 $2.00

-67.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$1.82 $1.82

-25.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$2.36 $2.36

-66.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$10.80 $10.80

-68.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$15.56 $15.56

-50.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$2.71 $2.71

-38.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$3.60 $3.60

-33.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$4.03 $4.03

-71.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$1.94 $1.94

-61.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$28.49 $28.49

-60.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.00 $1.00

38.00%

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

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$35.3K $35.3K

-30.31%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

-12.21%

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

$88.7 ₾231

$101 $101

-12.26%

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

$13.18 ₾34.26

$53.5 $53.5

-75.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$49.20 $49.20

-60.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$14.94 $14.94

-57.03%

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

$372 ₾967

$1,716 $1,716

-78.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

-54.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$40.21 $40.21

159.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$49.96 $49.96

-22.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$102 $102

12.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$120 $120

2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$2,240 $2,240

-41.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$1,778 $1,778

-49.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$2,256 $2,256

5.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$2,218 $2,218

-35.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$3,947 $3,947

-83.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

6.26

101.60%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Elgin, IL: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Elgin, IL pays 517% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $61.0 in Elgin, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $376 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 Elgin, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Elgin, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 517% lower in Elgin, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $1,716 in Elgin, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Elgin, IL – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,049 in Elgin, IL versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elgin, IL but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Elgin, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Elgin, IL 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 Elgin, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.