Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,069 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,019 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,968 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 42% cheaper than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 10% below the global median, while Johnson City, TN is 54% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$12.78 $12.78
-15.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$49.26 $49.26
-12.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$11.80 $11.80
-29.75%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$3.79 $3.79
-20.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$2.10 $2.10
-60.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.74 $1.74
-73.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$5.06 $5.06
-55.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$5.85 $5.85
-50.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.00 $1.00
93.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$3.83 $3.83
-82.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$3.06 $3.06
-38.56%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$3.28 $3.28
-22.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$7.49 $7.49
-0.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$8.43 $8.43
-26.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$13.30 $13.30
-29.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$4.01 $4.01
-69.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.62 $1.62
2.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$3.96 $3.96
-54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$3.61 $3.61
-37.95%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$2.44 $2.44
-70.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$3.65 $3.65
-81.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.86 $1.86
-36.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$2.22 $2.22
-70.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$7.33 $7.33
-59.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$13.20 $13.20
-42.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.62 $1.62
-4.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$4.09 $4.09
-44.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$2.56 $2.56
-85.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$37.08 $37.08
-61.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$5.40 $5.40
-72.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$1.48 $1.48
-54.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$64.1 $64.1
-88.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$0.78 $0.78
46.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$29.9K $29.9K
-38.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
-10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$151 $151
-51.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$74.6 $74.6
-84.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$52.1 $52.1
-65.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$47.39 $47.39
26.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$20.31 $20.31
-17.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$12.94 $12.94
-49.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$909 $909
-70.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$14.7K $14.7K
-64.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$39.32 $39.32
97.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$36.77 $36.77
21.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$62.7 $62.7
86.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$116 $116
-2.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$1,182 $1,182
-41.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$1,023 $1,023
-54.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$2,035 $2,035
-35.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$1,636 $1,636
-52.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
$2,156 $2,156
12.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
$2,218 $2,218
-34.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
$3,409 $3,409
-80.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6.15
93.33%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,182 in Johnson City, TN. 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 407% higher in Johnson City, TN, 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 $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $333 – making Tbilisi 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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnson City, TN cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Johnson City, TN is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,104 in Johnson City, TN. 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 Tbilisi, 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 Johnson City, TN?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. 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 Johnson City, TN?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $2,069 in Johnson City, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Johnson City, TN?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Johnson City, TN at $2,069. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johnson City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Johnson City, TN more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – 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 Johnson City, TN?
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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johnson City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities