Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Scarborough Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Scarborough

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,187 in Tbilisi versus $1,988 in Scarborough.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,826 in Tbilisi versus $2,869 in Scarborough.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $3,749 in Scarborough.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 40% less than in Scarborough, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Scarborough is 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.79 ₾28.29
$14.78 £11.05
-27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.24 ₾116
$69.5 £51.9
-36.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.40 ₾22.01
$9.90 £7.40
-15.15%
Cappuccino
$2.98 ₾7.81
$4.40 £3.29
-32.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₾1.97
$2.10 £1.57
-64.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.11
$1.01 £0.75
-58.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ₾5.78
$5.89 £4.40
-62.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.88
$4.61 £3.45
-34.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 ₾5.25
$1.51 £1.13
32.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$1.71 £1.28
-60.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.73
$2.55 £1.90
-29.41%
Eggs
$2.59 ₾6.79
$3.77 £2.82
-31.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.48
$9.32 £6.97
-20.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.20 ₾16.26
$8.27 £6.18
-25.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.55 ₾25.05
$9.31 £6.96
2.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.21
$3.33 £2.49
-63.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.32
$1.48 £1.11
11.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.92
$1.45 £1.08
29.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.10
$2.19 £1.64
6.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.19 £0.89
-45.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.69
$1.50 £1.12
-57.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 ₾3.25
$1.04 £0.77
19.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.71
$1.83 £1.37
-64.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 ₾8.05
$11.44 £8.55
-73.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.74 ₾20.28
$9.17 £6.85
-15.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₾4.19
$2.68 £2.01
-40.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 ₾5.87
$2.77 £2.07
-19.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₾0.93
$3.13 £2.34
-88.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.60
$93.5 £69.9
-84.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$4.29 £3.21
-66.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.19 £0.89
-41.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.52 ₾19.70
$16.12 £12.05
-53.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.02
$1.89 £1.41
-39.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾47.2K
$36.7K £27.4K
-50.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K ₾52.1K
$39.0K £29.2K
-49.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.2 ₾195
$272 £203
-72.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85 ₾31.08
$16.02 £11.97
-26.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.14 ₾47.55
$33.53 £25.06
-45.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾162
$34.49 £25.78
79.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91 ₾44.33
$13.08 £9.77
29.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.53 ₾17.13
$10.87 £8.12
-39.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾691
$1,718 £1,284
-84.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,079 ₾13.3K
$18.6K £13.9K
-72.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2 ₾202
$70.1 £52.4
10.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.11 ₾116
$37.38 £27.94
18.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾313
$111 £82.7
8.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾291
$88.9 £66.5
24.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$707 ₾1,853
$875 £654
-19.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,207
$836 £624
-44.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 ₾3,534
$1,562 £1,167
-13.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$783 ₾2,053
$1,244 £930
-37.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,423 ₾6,352
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,480 ₾3,880
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$662 ₾1,735
$2,056 £1,537
-67.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5.45
118.17%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 21, 2026

Last update for Scarborough: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $707 in Tbilisi and $875 in Scarborough. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Scarborough pays 211% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $69.0 in Scarborough for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $267 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 Scarborough: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Scarborough?
Tbilisi and Scarborough differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,187 vs $1,988 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 211% lower in Scarborough. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Scarborough?
Rent for a central apartment: $707 in Tbilisi versus $875 in Scarborough. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and in Scarborough?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 535% less than in Scarborough. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Scarborough?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $1,718 in Scarborough. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,187 in Tbilisi versus $1,988 in Scarborough, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Scarborough. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Scarborough?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Scarborough safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Scarborough are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Scarborough?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Scarborough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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