🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,722 in Rio Tinto.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $2,688 in Rio Tinto.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $3,655 in Rio Tinto.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 25% less than in Rio Tinto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 6% below, Rio Tinto is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.55
$12.83€11.04
-8.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.8
$52.7€45.33
-28.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.41
$9.13€7.86
6.68%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.90
$1.99€1.71
71.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.76
$2.09€1.80
-49.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.56€1.34
-58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.05
$3.15€2.71
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.08
$2.98€2.57
4.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.73
$1.14€0.98
92.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.83€1.58
-55.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.64€1.41
-
Eggs
$2.75₾7.18
$2.99€2.57
-8.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.50
$16.14€13.89
-44.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.09
$8.25€7.10
-20.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.91
$21.70€18.67
-41.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$2.45€2.11
-31.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$1.54€1.32
17.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.03
$2.20€1.89
-12.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$2.40€2.07
7.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$1.80€1.55
-51.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.68
$2.13€1.83
-69.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$1.58€1.36
-12.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$1.13€0.97
-29.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$7.12€6.13
-52.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.66
$5.21€4.48
44.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$1.34€1.16
20.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$2.58€2.22
-12.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$1.82€1.57
-79.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.41
$46.49€40.00
-67.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.05
$4.63€3.99
-74.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.47€0.41
70.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.55
$13.80€11.88
-17.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$2.08€1.79
-36.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$35.1K€30.2K
-28.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$39.5K€34.0K
-43.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾232
$118€101
-24.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.55
$17.98€15.47
-26.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$44.92€38.65
-56.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾178
$43.94€37.81
55.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.73
$17.73€15.26
5.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.30
$9.10€7.83
-27.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾948
$459€395
-20.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$6,632€5,707
60.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$116€100
-11.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$36.90€31.75
5.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$79.9€68.7
46.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$80.5€69.3
52.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,780
$997€858
-31.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,165
$798€687
-44.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,349
$2,184€1,879
-41.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,399
$1,504€1,294
-38.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,486
$2,815€2,422
-11.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,711
$2,575€2,216
-44.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Rio Tinto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,684
$1,332€1,146
-51.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
3.27
289.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Rio Tinto: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $997 in Rio Tinto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rio Tinto pays 106% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $53.0 in Rio Tinto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $297 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 Rio Tinto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Rio Tinto?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Rio Tinto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Rio Tinto?
On paper, salaries run 106% lower in Rio Tinto. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Rio Tinto?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $997 in Rio Tinto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Rio Tinto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Rio Tinto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Rio Tinto?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $53.0 in Rio Tinto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Rio Tinto?
At $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,722 in Rio Tinto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Rio Tinto. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Rio Tinto?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,286 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Rio Tinto?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Rio Tinto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Rio Tinto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.