Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Helena, MT

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,242 a month against $3,107 in Helena, MT, rent and utilities included – about $22,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

61

Cost of Living Index in Tbilisi
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Tbilisi Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Helena, MT
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Helena, MT Living Index

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Tbilisi

🇬🇪 Georgia

$1,242

/mo nomad

Helena, MT

🇺🇸 United States

$3,107

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Helena, MT

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 Helena, MT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $3,107 in Helena, MT.

Tbilisi $1,242
Helena, MT $3,107

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,962 in Tbilisi versus $4,494 in Helena, MT.

Tbilisi $1,962
Helena, MT $4,494

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,682 in Tbilisi versus $5,882 in Helena, MT.

Tbilisi $2,682
Helena, MT $5,882

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 60% less than in Helena, MT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, Helena, MT is 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 ₾28.46

$21.52 $21.52

-48.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.21 ₾99.0

$101 $101

-62.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.58 ₾24.84

$17.96 $17.96

-46.66%

Cappuccino

$3.59 ₾9.31

$4.99 $4.99

-28.06%

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

$1.03 ₾2.66

$2.21 $2.21

-53.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₾1.64

$1.72 $1.72

-63.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 ₾7.10

$4.92 $4.92

-44.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ₾8.22

$6.83 $6.83

-53.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ₾5.53

$1.07 $1.07

99.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.91

$3.71 $3.71

-80.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 ₾4.46

$4.45 $4.45

-61.35%

Eggs

$2.78 ₾7.21

$3.76 $3.76

-26.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₾24.56

$17.68 $17.68

-46.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 ₾16.71

$8.78 $8.78

-26.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.02 ₾33.76

$20.13 $20.13

-35.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ₾4.37

$4.58 $4.58

-63.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.76

$1.82 $1.82

1.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₾4.90

$4.62 $4.62

-59.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 ₾6.22

$3.98 $3.98

-39.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.17

$2.15 $2.15

-60.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.75

$1.54 $1.54

-55.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.42 ₾3.68

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₾2.01

$1.56 $1.56

-50.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ₾9.22

$10.39 $10.39

-65.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.48 ₾19.39

$12.78 $12.78

-41.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₾4.43

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₾5.94

$2.49 $2.49

-8.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₾1.04

$3.58 $3.58

-88.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.15 ₾39.27

$59.2 $59.2

-74.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₾3.08

$10.03 $10.03

-88.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ₾2.03

$3.33 $3.33

-76.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.77 ₾30.50

$44.80 $44.80

-73.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₾3.65

$0.99 $0.99

42.42%

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

$24.3K ₾62.9K

$36.1K $36.1K

-32.74%

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

$21.7K ₾56.3K

$31.1K $31.1K

-30.08%

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

$87.6 ₾227

$369 $369

-76.27%

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

$13.33 ₾34.55

$68.1 $68.1

-80.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.51 ₾50.6

$93.0 $93.0

-79.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 ₾168

$52.0 $52.0

24.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 ₾48.86

$14.90 $14.90

26.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.55 ₾16.97

$12.19 $12.19

-46.27%

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

$377 ₾978

$1,962 $1,962

-80.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₾27.5K

$27.6K $27.6K

-61.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₾265

$65.4 $65.4

56.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.36 ₾105

$120 $120

-66.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾302

$81.0 $81.0

43.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₾314

$121 $121

-0.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$675 ₾1,749

$1,756 $1,756

-61.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₾1,170

$1,547 $1,547

-70.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 ₾3,305

$2,940 $2,940

-56.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$883 ₾2,288

$2,450 $2,450

-63.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,415 ₾6,259

$3,548 $3,548

-31.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,404 ₾3,640

$2,944 $2,944

-52.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₾1,830

$6,710 $6,710

-89.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

6.56

92.38%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Helena, MT: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Tbilisi

$451 35.8%

Helena, MT

$1.5K 49.1% 243% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Tbilisi

$232 18.4%

Helena, MT

$384 12.2% 65.2% $152

Eating Out

Tbilisi

$186 14.8%

Helena, MT

$340 10.8% 82.3% $153

Clothing & Footwear

Tbilisi

$171 13.6%

Helena, MT

$175 5.5% 2% $3.4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Tbilisi

$120 9.6%

Helena, MT

$530 16.8% 340% $410

Sport & Entertainment

Tbilisi

$78 6.2%

Helena, MT

$76 2.4% 1.8% $1.4

Getting Around

Tbilisi

$22 1.7%

Helena, MT

$100 3.2% 358% $78

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in Tbilisi and $1,756 in Helena, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Helena, MT pays 850% 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 $101 in Helena, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $384 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇬🇪 Tbilisi

🇺🇸 Helena, MT

🕒 Local time

12:17 12:17 PM

02:17 2:17 AM

10 h behind Tbilisi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,241,700 Capital

32,091

💱 Currency

Georgian Lari GEL ₾

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 GEL = 0.386 USD

1 GEL = 0.344 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇬🇪 Georgian Lari (₾)

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 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).

USD to GEL in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Tbilisi Helena, MT 9,930 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Tbilisi
Helena, MT

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 Helena, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and Helena, MT differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($1,242 vs $3,107 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 850% lower in Helena, MT. 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: $675 in Tbilisi versus $1,756 in Helena, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $377 in Tbilisi versus $1,962 in Helena, MT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Helena, MT. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $3,107 in Helena, MT, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Helena, MT. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Helena, MT 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 150% less than in Helena, MT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.