Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Scarborough

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,270 a month against $2,130 in Scarborough, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Scarborough
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,130
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Scarborough

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Scarborough actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $2,130 in Scarborough.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Scarborough $2,130

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $3,096 in Scarborough.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Scarborough $3,096

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $4,062 in Scarborough.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Scarborough $4,062

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 40% less than in Scarborough, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 6% below, Scarborough is 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$15.36 £11.53
-25.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$71.1 £53.4
-46.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$12.12 £9.09
-19.14%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$3.51 £2.63
1.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$2.05 £1.53
-48.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$1.02 £0.77
-39.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$4.58 £3.44
-39.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$4.29 £3.22
-30.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.29 £0.97
67.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.37 £1.03
-44.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.08 £0.81
61.11%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$3.60 £2.70
-22.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$7.92 £5.94
16.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$7.18 £5.39
-9.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$13.94 £10.46
-8.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$3.13 £2.35
-46.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.99 £1.49
-7.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$2.65 £1.99
-25.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$2.09 £1.57
20.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.74 £1.30
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.62 £1.21
-54.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$1.15 £0.87
23.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$1.91 £1.43
-62.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$22.58 £16.94
-85.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$9.59 £7.19
-18.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$3.65 £2.74
-55.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$3.60 £2.70
-33.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$3.30 £2.48
-88.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$86.0 £64.5
-81.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$5.73 £4.30
-80.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$4.97 £3.73
-84.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$33.58 £25.19
-65.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.98 £1.48
-24.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$36.0K £27.0K
-31.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$39.9K £29.9K
-43.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$356 £267
-75.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$25.99 £19.50
-49.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$32.74 £24.56
-40.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$66.1 £49.59
-2.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$12.67 £9.50
51.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$10.66 £7.99
-34.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$1,804 £1,353
-79.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$14.7K £11.1K
-27.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$66.3 £49.73
54.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$35.54 £26.66
13.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$108 £81.3
7.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$114 £85.2
7.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$867 £651
-21.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$831 £624
-45.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$1,524 £1,143
-16.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$1,365 £1,024
-34.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$910 £683
-22.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
5.53
128.21%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Scarborough: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Scarborough
$831 83% $377
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Scarborough
$276 18.6% $43
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Scarborough
$245 28.6% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Scarborough
$146 15.1% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Scarborough
$415 243% $294
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Scarborough
$87 11.8% $9.3
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Scarborough
$130 487% $108

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $867 in Scarborough. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Scarborough pays 30% 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 $71.0 in Scarborough for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $276 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇬🇧 Scarborough
🕒 Local time
09:42 9:42 AM
06:42 6:42 AM
3 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
61,749
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Scarborough 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Scarborough

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 68% in total monthly costs ($1,270 vs $2,130 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 30% 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: $677 in Tbilisi versus $867 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 454% 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 $373 in Tbilisi versus $1,804 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 $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $2,130 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 68% less than in Scarborough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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