Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and RugbyCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Rugby
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,138 in Rugby.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $3,225 in Rugby.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $4,312 in Rugby.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 45% less than in Rugby, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Rugby is 60% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$20.00£14.80
-44.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$83.1£61.5
-48.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$9.54£7.06
-13.84%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$4.70£3.47
-33.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$2.01£1.49
-63.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.33£0.98
-66.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$5.49£4.06
-61.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$6.19£4.58
-51.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.67£1.23
13.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.63£1.21
-55.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$2.51£1.86
-26.29%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$3.77£2.79
-35.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$10.97£8.11
-28.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$8.23£6.09
-24.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$13.89£10.28
-29.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.52£1.86
-51.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.74£1.29
-8.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.99£1.47
-10.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$2.84£2.10
-18.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.63£1.21
-56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.48£1.09
-54.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.07£0.79
10.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.36£1.01
-47.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$17.26£12.78
-83.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$11.59£8.58
-37.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$3.38£2.50
-54.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$4.25£3.14
-45.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$2.77£2.05
-86.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$94.6£70.0
-84.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$4.57£3.38
-67.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.24£0.92
-44.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$24.37£18.03
-69.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.99£1.47
-42.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$39.0K£28.8K
-53.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$40.8K£30.2K
-51.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$294£217
-75.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$24.08£17.82
-51.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$43.55£32.23
-59.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$51.4£38.07
17.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$13.45£9.96
22.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$13.32£9.86
-51.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$1,366£1,011
-80.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$13.5K£9,990
-61.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$110£81.6
-29.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$36.41£26.95
21.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$119£88.2
-1.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$107£79.5
6.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$808£598
-14.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$813£601
-43.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$1,543£1,142
-13.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$1,505£1,114
-48.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$5,149£3,810
-50.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$4,384£3,244
-67.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Rugby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$3,400£2,516
-81.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.76
106.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Rugby: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $808 in Rugby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rugby pays 437% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $83.0 in Rugby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $296 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 Rugby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rugby cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Rugby?
On paper, Rugby earns 437% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Rugby?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $808 in Rugby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Rugby?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $83.0 in Rugby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Rugby?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $2,138 in Rugby – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Rugby?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,138 in Rugby, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Rugby. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Rugby more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rugby, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Rugby?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Rugby 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Rugby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.