Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Madison, WI

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,242 a month against $2,994 in Madison, WI, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,242
/mo nomad
Madison, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,994
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Madison, WI

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 Madison, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,242 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,994 in Madison, WI, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,242
  • Madison, WI $2,994

A couple spends around $1,962 per month in Tbilisi vs $4,424 in Madison, WI, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,962
  • Madison, WI $4,424

A family of three spends $2,682 per month in Tbilisi vs $5,854 in Madison, WI, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,682
  • Madison, WI $5,854

Tbilisi is about 59% cheaper than Madison, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Tbilisi sits 7% below the global median, while Madison, WI is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 ₾28.46
$19.62 $19.62
-44.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.21 ₾99.0
$68.0 $68.0
-43.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 ₾24.84
$13.07 $13.07
-26.70%
Cappuccino
$3.59 ₾9.31
$5.63 $5.63
-36.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₾2.66
$3.16 $3.16
-67.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.64
$2.53 $2.53
-75.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ₾7.10
$7.08 $7.08
-61.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ₾8.22
$8.23 $8.23
-61.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ₾5.53
$0.98 $0.98
117.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$3.43 $3.43
-78.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.46
$4.13 $4.13
-58.35%
Eggs
$2.78 ₾7.21
$3.61 $3.61
-22.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.48 ₾24.56
$14.92 $14.92
-36.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 ₾16.71
$13.28 $13.28
-51.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 ₾33.76
$20.06 $20.06
-35.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 ₾4.37
$4.75 $4.75
-64.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.76
$1.62 $1.62
13.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₾4.90
$5.31 $5.31
-64.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 ₾6.22
$4.98 $4.98
-51.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.17
$2.79 $2.79
-69.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.75
$3.12 $3.12
-78.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.68
$2.19 $2.19
-35.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-68.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 ₾9.22
$10.77 $10.77
-66.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ₾19.39
$15.75 $15.75
-52.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₾4.43
$2.70 $2.70
-36.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₾5.94
$4.43 $4.43
-48.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.04
$2.06 $2.06
-80.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.15 ₾39.27
$65.5 $65.5
-76.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$3.97 $3.97
-70.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$2.02 $2.02
-61.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 ₾30.50
$43.09 $43.09
-72.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₾3.65
$1.01 $1.01
39.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K ₾62.9K
$36.0K $36.0K
-32.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ₾56.3K
$25.6K $25.6K
-15.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 ₾227
$269 $269
-67.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.55
$52.5 $52.5
-74.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51 ₾50.6
$83.8 $83.8
-76.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.7 ₾168
$58.4 $58.4
10.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 ₾48.86
$10.54 $10.54
78.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 ₾16.97
$15.27 $15.27
-57.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾978
$1,705 $1,705
-77.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.5K
$23.0K $23.0K
-53.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$63.0 $63.0
62.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36 ₾105
$50.0 $50.0
-19.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾302
$108 $108
8.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₾314
$121 $121
-0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 ₾1,749
$1,789 $1,789
-62.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,170
$1,572 $1,572
-71.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 ₾3,305
$3,177 $3,177
-59.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 ₾2,288
$2,565 $2,565
-65.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,415 ₾6,259
$4,524 $4,524
-46.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,404 ₾3,640
$2,489 $2,489
-43.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Madison, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$706 ₾1,830
$4,383 $4,383
-83.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
6.69
88.64%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Madison, WI: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
Madison, WI
$1.6K 248% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$232
Madison, WI
$432 86% $200
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$186
Madison, WI
$338 81.5% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Madison, WI
$154 10.1% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$120
Madison, WI
$405 237% $285
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Madison, WI
$89 14.3% $11
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Madison, WI
$88 302% $66

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $675 in Tbilisi versus $1,789 in Madison, WI. 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 521% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $68.0 in Madison, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $432 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇺🇸 Madison, WI
🕒 Local time
13:41 1:41 PM
04:41 4:41 AM
9 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
248,951
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Madison, WI 9,540 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Madison, WI

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 Madison, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Madison, WI compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,242 in Tbilisi, $2,994 in Madison, WI – roughly 141% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Madison, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,863 per month in Tbilisi and $4,491 in Madison, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Madison, WI?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and in Madison, WI?
Public transport costs about 332% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Madison, WI?
Kindergarten costs $377 per month in Tbilisi and $1,705 in Madison, WI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,242, than in Madison, WI at $2,994. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madison, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Madison, WI?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,242 in Tbilisi to $2,994 in Madison, WI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Madison, WI safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Madison, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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