🙂A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,311 in Popayan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,104 in Popayan, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,896 in Popayan, rent included.
🙂Tbilisi is about 5% cheaper than Popayan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tbilisi and Popayan are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Popayan4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$7.42COP 23.1K
52.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$46.79COP 146.0K
-17.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$9.41COP 29.3K
1.17%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.43COP 7,580
40.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.52COP 4,731
-31.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.98COP 3,069
-34.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.65COP 8,267
-1.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$4.33COP 13.5K
-25.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.33COP 4,160
63.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$2.51COP 7,845
-70.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.57COP 4,887
8.92%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.82COP 8,807
0.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$8.85COP 27.6K
4.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$10.82COP 33.8K
-37.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$12.63COP 39.4K
1.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$3.22COP 10.1K
-49.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.65COP 5,136
7.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.79COP 5,590
4.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$1.66COP 5,177
46.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$1.69COP 5,286
-48.52%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.48COP 4,621
-56.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$1.28COP 3,986
9.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.09COP 3,409
-32.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$3.65COP 11.4K
-6.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$13.67COP 42.6K
-44.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.36COP 4,249
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$2.62COP 8,184
-9.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$1.18COP 3,668
-69.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$1.49COP 4,644
-20.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$2.24COP 6,989
-66.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$8.46COP 26.4K
34.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.38COP 4,294
-3.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$25.1KCOP 78.3M
-1.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$33.9KCOP 105.8M
-35.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$115COP 357.4K
-22.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$14.07COP 43.9K
-5.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$25.98COP 81.1K
-22.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$38.08COP 118.8K
80.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$7.53COP 23.5K
-10.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$628COP 2.0M
-40.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$7,376COP 23.0M
45.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$84.2COP 262.7K
20.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$51.2COP 159.8K
-23.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$136COP 423.4K
-13.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$116COP 362.2K
5.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$763COP 2.4M
-10.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$544COP 1.7M
-16.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$920COP 2.9M
41.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$984COP 3.1M
-8.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
$2,286COP 7.1M
7.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
$1,938COP 6.0M
-25.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Popayan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
11.58
8.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Popayan: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $763 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $47.00 in Popayan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $282 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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: $1,247 in Tbilisi, $1,311 in Popayan – roughly 5% apart. Popayan costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Popayan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,967 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi and $47.00 in Popayan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Popayan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Popayan at $1,311. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Popayan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Popayan?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,247 in Tbilisi to $1,311 in Popayan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Popayan safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Popayan?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Popayan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.