Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Urbandale, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,270 a month against $2,310 in Urbandale, IA, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Urbandale, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,310
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Urbandale, IA

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 Urbandale, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,310 in Urbandale, IA, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Urbandale, IA $2,310

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,374 in Urbandale, IA, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Urbandale, IA $3,374

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Tbilisi vs $4,437 in Urbandale, IA, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Urbandale, IA $4,437

Tbilisi is about 45% cheaper than Urbandale, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Tbilisi sits 6% below the global median, while Urbandale, IA is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$14.86 $14.86
-22.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$50.9 $50.9
-24.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$9.96 $9.96
-1.61%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$4.97 $4.97
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$1.21 $1.21
-12.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.99 $0.99
-37.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$5.15 $5.15
-46.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$7.58 $7.58
-60.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.01 $1.01
113.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$3.25 $3.25
-76.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$3.84 $3.84
-54.69%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.05 $2.05
36.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$14.07 $14.07
-34.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$9.88 $9.88
-33.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$13.88 $13.88
-7.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$3.21 $3.21
-47.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.61 $1.61
14.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$3.47 $3.47
-42.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$3.29 $3.29
-23.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$3.09 $3.09
-71.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$3.37 $3.37
-78.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$2.14 $2.14
-33.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$2.10 $2.10
-65.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$8.16 $8.16
-58.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$12.04 $12.04
-34.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.82 $1.82
-10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$1.87 $1.87
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$2.05 $2.05
-81.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$66.0 $66.0
-76.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$2.46 $2.46
-53.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$1.20 $1.20
-34.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$60.2 $60.2
-80.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$0.98 $0.98
53.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$34.6K $34.6K
-28.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$25.6K $25.6K
-12.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$140 $140
-36.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$14.79 $14.79
-11.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$25.01 $25.01
-21.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$35.57 $35.57
80.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$20.34 $20.34
-5.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$14.81 $14.81
-52.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$1,164 $1,164
-67.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$20.7K $20.7K
-48.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$61.3 $61.3
67.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$21.96 $21.96
84.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$45.54 $45.54
155.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$75.1 $75.1
62.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$933 $933
-27.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$1,290 $1,290
-64.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$1,237 $1,237
3.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$2,164 $2,164
-58.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$2,777 $2,777
-13.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$2,710 $2,710
-47.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Urbandale, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$3,637 $3,637
-80.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
6.56
92.38%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Urbandale, IA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Urbandale, IA
$1.3K 184% $836
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Urbandale, IA
$342 47% $109
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Urbandale, IA
$258 35.5% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Urbandale, IA
$92 46.5% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Urbandale, IA
$179 48.5% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Urbandale, IA
$65 16.6% $13
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Urbandale, IA
$83 274% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Tbilisi versus $933 in Urbandale, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 418% higher in Urbandale, IA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $51.0 in Urbandale, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $342 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇺🇸 Urbandale, IA
🕒 Local time
18:54 6:54 PM
09:54 9:54 AM
9 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
45,580
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Urbandale, IA 9,860 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Urbandale, IA

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 Urbandale, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Urbandale, IA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi, $2,310 in Urbandale, IA – roughly 82% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Urbandale, IA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Tbilisi and $3,465 in Urbandale, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Urbandale, IA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $51.0 in Urbandale, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Urbandale, IA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Tbilisi and $2,310 in Urbandale, IA. That's a gap of about 82%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Urbandale, IA at $2,310. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Urbandale, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Urbandale, IA?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,270 in Tbilisi to $2,310 in Urbandale, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Urbandale, IA safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Urbandale, IA?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Urbandale, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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