Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and IlionCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ilion
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,500 in Ilion.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,235 in Ilion.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,969 in Ilion.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 21% less than in Ilion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Ilion is 12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$13.64€11.68
-18.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$56.5€48.39
-23.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$8.78€7.52
-6.38%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$3.96€3.39
-20.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.66€1.42
-55.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.60€0.52
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$5.84€5.00
-63.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$5.73€4.90
-47.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.85€1.58
2.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.32€1.13
-44.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$2.84€2.43
-34.86%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$4.88€4.17
-49.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$13.76€11.78
-42.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$11.27€9.65
-44.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$15.09€12.92
-35.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.22€1.90
-45.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.08€1.78
-23.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.51€1.29
18.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$2.54€2.18
-8.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.35€1.16
-47.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.17€1.01
-42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.96€0.82
22.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.18€1.01
-39.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$5.61€4.80
-47.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$8.53€7.30
-15.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.00€1.71
-22.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.85€2.44
-18.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$1.61€1.38
-76.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$45.78€39.19
-67.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$4.01€3.44
-63.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$11.66€9.98
-36.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$2.18€1.87
-47.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$29.3K€25.1K
-38.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$25.3K€21.6K
-21.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$212€182
-65.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$27.28€23.35
-57.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$33.04€28.28
-46.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$48.45€41.48
25.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$26.64€22.80
-38.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$9.59€8.21
-32.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$525€449
-49.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$6,357€5,442
-19.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$92.2€78.9
-15.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$32.12€27.49
38.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$101€86.6
16.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$115€98.8
-1.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$494€423
40.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$396€339
16.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$766€655
74.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$610€522
27.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$3,825€3,274
-33.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$3,150€2,697
-54.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ilion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$1,298€1,111
-51.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.8
147.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ilion: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $494 in Ilion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ilion pays 105% 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 $57.0 in Ilion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $305 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 Ilion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Ilion?
Tbilisi and Ilion differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,500 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, Ilion earns 105% 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 Ilion?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $494 in Ilion. 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 Ilion?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $525 in Ilion. 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 48% higher in Ilion. 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 $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,500 in Ilion, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Ilion. 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 Ilion?
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 Ilion safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ilion 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 Ilion?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Ilion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.