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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,985 in Scarborough.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Tbilisi versus $2,840 in Scarborough.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Tbilisi versus $3,696 in Scarborough.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 39% less than in Scarborough, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Scarborough is 47% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78 โ‚พ29.00
$14.49 ยฃ10.73
-25.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10 โ‚พ116
$69.5 ยฃ51.5
-37.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.27 โ‚พ22.24
$10.20 ยฃ7.56
-18.92%
Cappuccino
$2.95 โ‚พ7.94
$4.41 ยฃ3.27
-33.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 โ‚พ2.05
$2.17 ยฃ1.61
-64.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 โ‚พ1.13
$0.96 ยฃ0.71
-56.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 โ‚พ6.03
$5.82 ยฃ4.32
-61.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 โ‚พ7.71
$4.76 ยฃ3.52
-39.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 โ‚พ5.19
$1.50 ยฃ1.11
28.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 โ‚พ1.84
$1.63 ยฃ1.21
-58.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 โ‚พ4.97
$2.42 ยฃ1.79
-23.55%
Eggs
$2.49 โ‚พ6.69
$3.78 ยฃ2.80
-34.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 โ‚พ20.27
$8.98 ยฃ6.66
-16.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 โ‚พ17.09
$8.21 ยฃ6.09
-22.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.43 โ‚พ25.38
$9.40 ยฃ6.97
0.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 โ‚พ3.16
$3.41 ยฃ2.53
-65.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 โ‚พ4.26
$1.45 ยฃ1.08
8.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 โ‚พ5.00
$1.43 ยฃ1.06
30.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 โ‚พ6.03
$2.17 ยฃ1.60
3.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 โ‚พ1.79
$1.16 ยฃ0.86
-43.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 โ‚พ1.83
$1.51 ยฃ1.12
-54.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 โ‚พ3.17
$1.05 ยฃ0.78
12.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 โ‚พ1.77
$1.82 ยฃ1.35
-63.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 โ‚พ8.25
$11.52 ยฃ8.53
-73.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.56 โ‚พ20.34
$10.77 ยฃ7.98
-29.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 โ‚พ4.08
$2.81 ยฃ2.08
-45.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 โ‚พ6.15
$2.68 ยฃ1.99
-14.55%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 โ‚พ0.95
$3.05 ยฃ2.26
-88.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.79 โ‚พ39.78
$96.2 ยฃ71.3
-84.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.45 โ‚พ3.90
$4.26 ยฃ3.16
-65.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 โ‚พ1.97
$1.19 ยฃ0.88
-38.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 โ‚พ19.78
$16.34 ยฃ12.10
-55.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 โ‚พ2.93
$1.99 ยฃ1.48
-45.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K โ‚พ49.5K
$36.2K ยฃ26.8K
-49.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K โ‚พ54.5K
$39.0K ยฃ28.9K
-48.01%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.3 โ‚พ197
$281 ยฃ208
-73.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.72 โ‚พ31.53
$16.02 ยฃ11.87
-26.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87 โ‚พ48.08
$33.93 ยฃ25.14
-47.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 โ‚พ165
$33.93 ยฃ25.15
80.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34 โ‚พ43.94
$12.88 ยฃ9.55
26.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 โ‚พ17.73
$10.96 ยฃ8.12
-39.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 โ‚พ702
$1,738 ยฃ1,288
-84.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,156 โ‚พ13.9K
$18.3K ยฃ13.6K
-71.82%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1 โ‚พ205
$68.2 ยฃ50.5
11.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83 โ‚พ118
$36.70 ยฃ27.19
19.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 โ‚พ325
$113 ยฃ83.5
7.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 โ‚พ304
$89.3 ยฃ66.1
26.55%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 โ‚พ1,873
$895 ยฃ663
-22.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 โ‚พ1,226
$858 ยฃ636
-46.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 โ‚พ3,500
$1,586 ยฃ1,175
-17.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 โ‚พ2,067
$1,199 ยฃ888
-35.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,500 โ‚พ6,725
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,432 โ‚พ3,853
-
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Scarborough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 โ‚พ1,756
$2,091 ยฃ1,549
-68.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5.45
118.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: April 13, 2026

Last update for Scarborough: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Tbilisi and $895 in Scarborough. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Scarborough pays 220% 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 in Tbilisi vs $69 in Scarborough for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $268 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 Scarborough?
Tbilisi and Scarborough differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $1,985 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Scarborough earns 220% less. 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 Scarborough?
Rent for a central apartment: $696 in Tbilisi versus $895 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 Scarborough?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 550% 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 $261 in Tbilisi versus $1,738 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,985 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 โ€“ 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 โ€“ expenses run 63% less than in Scarborough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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