Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Popayan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Popayan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $799 in Popayan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,225 in Popayan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,651 in Popayan, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 52% more than Popayan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Popayan are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Popayan 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$3.81 COP 13.3K

184.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$23.86 COP 83.3K

85.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

$7.06 COP 24.6K

17.28%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$1.51 COP 5,283

100.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.94 COP 3,288

-19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.56 COP 1,962

-17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$1.20 COP 4,185

86.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$2.15 COP 7,507

39.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.06 COP 3,704

82.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$1.29 COP 4,502

-44.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$1.13 COP 3,948

62.83%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$2.15 COP 7,497

13.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$4.42 COP 15.4K

68.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$5.14 COP 17.9K

26.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$7.53 COP 26.3K

28.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$2.42 COP 8,460

-50.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.11 COP 3,865

40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$1.34 COP 4,690

33.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$0.86 COP 3,009

159.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$1.12 COP 3,897

-41.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.17 COP 4,082

-41.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$0.82 COP 2,850

45.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.66 COP 2,288

6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$2.42 COP 8,438

21.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$11.09 COP 38.7K

-33.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$1.08 COP 3,776

40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$1.70 COP 5,925

32.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.68 COP 2,368

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

$29.46 COP 102.8K

-50.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$1.42 COP 4,943

5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$1.72 COP 6,002

-57.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$5.99 COP 20.9K

24.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$1.01 COP 3,530

12.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$18.0K COP 62.7M

3.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$25.4K COP 88.6M

-20.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.9 ₾196

$82.8 COP 288.8K

-10.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.71 ₾31.01

$8.89 COP 31.0K

31.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$23.06 COP 80.5K

-21.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$22.97 COP 80.2K

168.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

$3.87 COP 13.5K

70.80%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$264 ₾700

$237 COP 827.4K

11.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$5,846 COP 20.4M

-12.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$58.3 COP 203.5K

28.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$32.07 COP 111.9K

37.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$84.7 COP 295.6K

38.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$73.2 COP 255.3K

55.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$281 COP 981.2K

146.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$238 COP 829.5K

91.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$529 COP 1.8M

149.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$435 COP 1.5M

81.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

$1,621 COP 5.7M

50.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

$1,239 COP 4.3M

16.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

13.18

-9.79%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Popayan: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $281 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $24.00 in Popayan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $174 – making Popayan 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $799 in Popayan – roughly 52% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,198 in Popayan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Popayan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $237 in Popayan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Popayan, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Popayan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $799 in Popayan to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Popayan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.