Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Popayan

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,278 a month against $1,398 in Popayan, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Popayan, Colombia
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Popayan
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,398
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Popayan

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

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,398 in Popayan, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,278
  • Popayan $1,398

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,091 in Popayan, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,017
  • Popayan $2,091

A family of three spends $2,755 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,783 in Popayan, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,755
  • Popayan $2,783

Tbilisi is about 9% cheaper than Popayan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Tbilisi sits 5% below the global median, while Popayan is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 ₾30.06
$7.83 COP 25.2K
48.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.41 ₾99.3
$46.74 COP 150.3K
-17.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.18
$9.82 COP 31.6K
-0.81%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ₾9.21
$2.77 COP 8,896
28.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.79
$1.36 COP 4,387
-20.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.46
$0.91 COP 2,919
-38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 ₾7.05
$2.86 COP 9,208
-4.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₾8.08
$4.26 COP 13.7K
-26.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₾5.54
$1.50 COP 4,819
42.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$2.07 COP 6,672
-63.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$1.99 COP 6,390
-9.55%
Eggs
$2.80 ₾7.25
$3.31 COP 10.6K
-15.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 ₾24.39
$8.28 COP 26.6K
13.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.00 ₾18.09
$11.20 COP 36.0K
-37.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ₾32.82
$14.18 COP 45.6K
-10.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$3.93 COP 12.6K
-58.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.77
$1.49 COP 4,792
23.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.09
$1.82 COP 5,843
8.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₾6.38
$1.81 COP 5,833
36.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$1.62 COP 5,204
-53.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.74
$1.69 COP 5,438
-60.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₾3.66
$1.04 COP 3,354
35.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.86
$1.34 COP 4,309
-46.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$4.02 COP 12.9K
-12.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₾20.39
$13.00 COP 41.8K
-39.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.61 COP 5,171
5.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₾6.12
$2.27 COP 7,296
4.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾0.98
$1.17 COP 3,764
-67.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₾39.54
$56.8 COP 182.7K
-73.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$1.71 COP 5,490
-30.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$2.15 COP 6,929
-65.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.89 ₾30.75
$8.15 COP 26.2K
45.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₾3.77
$1.33 COP 4,284
9.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾64.6K
$36.6K COP 117.9M
-31.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₾59.0K
$37.8K COP 121.6M
-39.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₾228
$111 COP 358.5K
-20.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ₾32.85
$14.64 COP 47.1K
-13.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79 ₾51.2
$27.47 COP 88.4K
-27.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 ₾166
$39.02 COP 125.5K
64.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.17 ₾49.57
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 ₾17.19
$6.76 COP 21.7K
-1.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₾960
$507 COP 1.6M
-26.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,163 ₾23.7K
$10.5K COP 33.7M
-12.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾264
$80.7 COP 259.6K
26.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 ₾103
$58.1 COP 186.8K
-31.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$119 COP 384.0K
-1.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾310
$104 COP 333.4K
15.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₾1,784
$802 COP 2.6M
-13.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,193
$506 COP 1.6M
-8.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 ₾3,522
$1,349 COP 4.3M
0.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 ₾2,320
$779 COP 2.5M
15.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₾5,888
$2,078 COP 6.7M
9.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₾3,562
$1,794 COP 5.8M
-23.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$710 ₾1,836
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.53
12
4.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Popayan: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$461
Popayan
$506 9.7% $45
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$235
Popayan
$292 24.3% $57
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Popayan
$157 17.9% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Popayan
$163 4.7% $8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Popayan
$154 27.3% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Popayan
$53 32.3% $25
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Popayan
$74 241% $52

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $690 in Tbilisi versus $802 in Popayan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi versus $47 in Popayan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $292 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇨🇴 Popayan
🕒 Local time
03:16 3:16 AM
18:16 6:16 PM
9 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
318,059
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3,217 COP (10,000 COP = 3.11 USD). 1 EUR = 3,611 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Popayan 12,360 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Popayan

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 Popayan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Popayan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,278 in Tbilisi, $1,398 in Popayan – Tbilisi comes out roughly 9% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Popayan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $2,098 in Popayan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Popayan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $690 there versus $802 in Popayan.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Popayan?
Kindergarten costs $371 per month in Tbilisi and $507 in Popayan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Popayan, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How far does $2,000 go in Tbilisi compared to Popayan?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Tbilisi and $1,398 in Popayan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Tbilisi or Popayan?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Popayan?
For expats, Tbilisi is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 9% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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