😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,021 in Phoenix.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,545 in Phoenix.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,069 in Phoenix.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 16% more expensive than Phoenix, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Phoenix24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$6.63MUR 310
68.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$44.74MUR 2,094
-3.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$6.56MUR 307
25.30%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.67MUR 125
17.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.02MUR 47.66
-27.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.60MUR 27.86
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.13MUR 99.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.80MUR 131
6.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.45MUR 67.9
30.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.65MUR 30.61
12.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.28MUR 59.7
44.53%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.31MUR 108
6.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$10.01MUR 468
-21.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$6.21MUR 290
0.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$10.49MUR 491
-6.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.06MUR 96.5
-41.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.98MUR 92.7
-19.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.43MUR 66.9
25.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$2.64MUR 123
-12.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.98MUR 46.02
-27.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.98MUR 46.03
-31.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.79MUR 36.93
49.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.53MUR 24.85
33.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$5.98MUR 280
-51.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$8.68MUR 406
-16.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.71MUR 79.9
-9.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.09MUR 98.0
10.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.99MUR 46.43
-61.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$4.35MUR 204
-65.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$2.74MUR 128
-74.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$15.58MUR 729
-52.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.52MUR 71.2
-24.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$35.6KMUR 1.7M
-49.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$29.4KMUR 1.4M
-32.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$49.77MUR 2,329
47.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$18.07MUR 846
-35.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$32.07MUR 1,500
-44.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$38.91MUR 1,820
55.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$5.96MUR 279
9.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$156MUR 7,292
68.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$3,955MUR 185.0K
29.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$49.82MUR 2,331
55.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$43.42MUR 2,032
2.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$82.0MUR 3,837
43.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$77.3MUR 3,615
47.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$548MUR 25.7K
26.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$384MUR 17.9K
20.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$865MUR 40.5K
54.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$597MUR 27.9K
30.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$683MUR 32.0K
-7.39%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phoenix: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $548 in Phoenix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phoenix pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $45.00 in Phoenix for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $214 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 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 16% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,021 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 8% 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $548 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,021 in Phoenix – a 16% 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 $1,021 in Phoenix versus $1,185 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 16% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.