😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $867 in Paulinia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,385 in Paulinia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,903 in Paulinia.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 39% more expensive than Paulinia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Paulinia35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.68
$7.13R$36.74
51.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$32.69R$168
32.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.02
$6.79R$34.98
22.09%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.05R$10.57
46.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.29R$6.62
-36.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.87R$4.50
-47.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.82R$9.35
22.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.74
$2.83R$14.60
3.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$0.98R$5.04
96.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.61R$8.27
-57.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.38R$7.09
36.23%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$2.44R$12.59
4.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.69
$12.70R$65.4
-41.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.42
$4.15R$21.38
49.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.85
$8.96R$46.15
4.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.68R$8.63
-27.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.31R$6.77
26.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.43R$7.39
25.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.95
$1.72R$8.84
30.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.31R$6.73
-45.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.28R$6.60
-47.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.00R$5.13
18.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.69R$3.54
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.90
$2.22R$11.44
34.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.20
$8.08R$41.65
-5.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.34R$6.89
14.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.15R$11.06
4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.88R$4.53
-59.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.34
$38.04R$196
-62.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.11R$5.72
34.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.61R$3.16
11.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.18
$7.67R$39.50
-5.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.02R$5.25
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$22.5KR$115.9K
-17.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$28.8KR$148.6K
-30.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$85.8R$442
-14.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.89
$16.36R$84.3
-28.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.36
$21.89R$113
-18.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$36.46R$188
64.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.61
$21.48R$111
-21.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.53
$7.56R$38.94
-12.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾707
$326R$1,679
-18.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$8,135R$41.9K
-36.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$46.42R$239
67.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$44.50R$229
0.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$80.6R$415
44.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$62.1R$320
81.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$313R$1,614
121.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$213R$1,099
116.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,503
$577R$2,973
128.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,055
$423R$2,179
83.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,452
$1,582R$8,148
53.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,839
$1,149R$5,918
25.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Paulinia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,786
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
12
-0.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Paulinia: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $313 in Paulinia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $33.00 in Paulinia. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $203, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Paulinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Paulinia?
Tbilisi and Paulinia differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $867 including rent). Paulinia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Paulinia?
You'd need roughly $1,813 in Tbilisi and $1,301 in Paulinia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Paulinia?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $313 in Paulinia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Paulinia – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Paulinia?
All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $867 in Paulinia – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $867 in Paulinia versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paulinia but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Paulinia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Paulinia?
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 Paulinia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Paulinia 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 Paulinia?
Expats usually find Paulinia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.