😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,011 in Phoenix.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,549 in Phoenix.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $2,086 in Phoenix.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 20% more expensive than Phoenix, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Phoenix25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$6.74MUR 318
60.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$43.39MUR 2,043
1.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$6.50MUR 306
27.38%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.57MUR 121
17.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.98MUR 45.97
-22.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.60MUR 28.43
-23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.08MUR 98.1
7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.66MUR 125
12.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.46MUR 68.9
32.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.71MUR 33.25
1.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.33MUR 62.6
38.35%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$2.27MUR 107
7.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$9.87MUR 465
-24.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$6.03MUR 284
7.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$10.41MUR 490
-6.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$2.03MUR 95.7
-40.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$2.00MUR 94.3
-22.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.45MUR 68.4
23.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$2.67MUR 126
-16.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.02MUR 48.20
-36.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.00MUR 47.00
-32.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.84MUR 39.55
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.56MUR 26.53
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$6.14MUR 289
-51.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$8.25MUR 389
-11.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$1.78MUR 84.1
-14.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$2.11MUR 99.2
6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.04MUR 49.09
-65.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$4.48MUR 211
-66.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$2.72MUR 128
-73.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$15.48MUR 729
-51.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.54MUR 72.7
-25.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$35.9KMUR 1.7M
-48.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
-30.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$50.0MUR 2,356
47.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$18.57MUR 875
-36.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$33.02MUR 1,555
-45.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$38.92MUR 1,833
58.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$6.19MUR 292
6.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$155MUR 7,306
70.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$3,965MUR 186.7K
29.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$50.2MUR 2,361
49.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$43.39MUR 2,043
1.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$81.9MUR 3,858
43.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$80.4MUR 3,785
41.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$552MUR 26.0K
25.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$387MUR 18.2K
17.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$879MUR 41.4K
50.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$617MUR 29.0K
27.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$952MUR 44.8K
-32.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.25
90.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Phoenix: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $552 in Phoenix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phoenix pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $43.00 in Phoenix. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $213, 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 Phoenix: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Phoenix?
Tbilisi and Phoenix differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $1,011 including rent). Phoenix is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Phoenix earns 48% 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 Phoenix?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $552 in Phoenix. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Phoenix?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,011 in Phoenix – a 20% 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 $1,011 in Phoenix versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Phoenix but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Phoenix the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Phoenix?
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 Phoenix safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Phoenix 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 Phoenix?
Expats usually find Phoenix gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.