😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,010 in Phoenix.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,548 in Phoenix.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $2,086 in Phoenix.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 18% more expensive than in Phoenix, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Phoenix24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$6.55MUR 307
66.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$43.63MUR 2,043
-1.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$6.74MUR 316
26.56%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$2.55MUR 119
17.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$1.01MUR 47.22
-19.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.59MUR 27.82
-28.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$2.17MUR 102
-0.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$2.80MUR 131
2.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.50MUR 70.1
29.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.71MUR 33.16
-4.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.32MUR 61.7
40.15%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$2.24MUR 105
12.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$9.91MUR 464
-24.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$6.16MUR 288
1.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$10.43MUR 489
-8.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$1.98MUR 92.8
-41.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.90MUR 88.8
-13.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.46MUR 68.3
28.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$2.64MUR 124
-15.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.98MUR 45.73
-28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.02MUR 47.69
-37.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$0.84MUR 39.11
40.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.53MUR 24.63
32.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$6.00MUR 281
-50.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$8.42MUR 394
-11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.72MUR 80.6
-10.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$2.13MUR 99.8
7.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$1.00MUR 46.68
-64.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$4.29MUR 201
-66.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$2.65MUR 124
-73.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$15.35MUR 719
-52.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.58MUR 73.8
-31.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$35.7KMUR 1.7M
-48.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$28.4KMUR 1.3M
-27.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$49.40MUR 2,314
50.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$18.62MUR 872
-37.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$31.88MUR 1,493
-44.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$38.26MUR 1,792
57.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$6.02MUR 282
8.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$154MUR 7,216
74.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$3,963MUR 185.6K
30.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$50.0MUR 2,343
54.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$43.38MUR 2,032
0.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$81.7MUR 3,825
44.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$78.1MUR 3,660
44.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$561MUR 26.3K
26.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$386MUR 18.1K
20.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$869MUR 40.7K
51.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$605MUR 28.3K
26.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Phoenix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$932MUR 43.7K
-28.87%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Phoenix: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $561 in Phoenix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phoenix pays 41% 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 $44.00 in Phoenix for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $213 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 in Phoenix?
Tbilisi and Phoenix differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $1,010 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, salaries run 41% lower in Phoenix. 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 in Phoenix?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $561 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 $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,010 in Phoenix – a 18% 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 $1,010 in Phoenix versus $1,191 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 18% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.