Cost of living in Tbilisi, prices and what it is like to live for an Expat, quality of life / hardship, and compare cost of living for Expatriates as at October 2020.

What is it like to live in Tbilisi?

Tbilisi: Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia.

Economy: Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social, and cultural centre. The city is also emerging as an important transit route for global energy and trade projects. Located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes, Tbilisi has often been the point of contention between various rivalling powers and empires.

Inflation: 4.8% for Georgia as at August 2020.

Tbilisi Population: 1.5 Million (2020 est.)

Expat Life: In Georgia, friendship and socialising are highly valued. Eye contact during conversation is particularly important. Expatriate dress code is typically a suit. Expatriates will often be invited to dinners with frequent toasts. Male expatriates, in particular, will be expected to join their hosts in drinking numerous shots of vodka. The safety risk for expatriates in Georgia is medium, but high in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, where conflict can occur between Georgian safety forces and informal armed groups as well as the danger of landmines. Risks in the rest of Georgia include petty crime, particularly in expat areas such as Vake-Saburtalo and Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, as well as risks related to sporadic political protests.

Health Care: Health care facilities in Tbilisi are generally good but expensive. In other areas health care facilities are limited. The Coronavirus COVID-19 total reported cases for Georgia as at 1 October 2020 is 6,192, with 39 deaths. The rate of deaths per 1 million population is 10.

For other areas within the country see Republic of Georgia.

Cost Of Living

What is the cost of living in Tbilisi?

The cost of living for expatriates in Tbilisi as at October 2020 is very low in comparison to other places in the world, with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 44.97 (New York =100). We have collected prices for the same items, world wide, based on Expat spending norms, in or closest to the location, and converted them to $USD so that we can compare the cost of 13 different baskets in 780 global locations. For each basket, compared to New York, the equivalent cost in Tbilisi is as follows:

1) Alcohol and/or Tobacco: Cost is low for items such as beer, spirits, wine and tobacco related products such as cigarettes. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$580. Average price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is USD$6.31, domestic/local beer (500ml) USD$1.16, imported/international beer (330ml) USD$1.59 and a pack of 20 cigarettes is USD$2.61.

2) Clothing: Cost is low for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$680. Average price for an international brand of mens jeans is USD$56, a quality international brand of running shoes USD$78, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear USD$107 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is USD$35.

3) Communication: Cost is very low for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile service provider tariff and data costs. A basket costing USD$200 in New York costs USD$94. Average price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is USD$15, while the benchmark mobile tariff is USD$0.08 per minute.

4) Education: Cost is low for items such as creche / pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees. A basket costing USD$30,000 in New York costs USD$15600. Average annual private international school fee (excluding extras) USD$10,173 for Primary School, and USD$11,321 for High School.

5) Furniture & Appliances: Cost is very low for items such as dining table and chairs, home entertainment, kitchen appliances, and sofas. A basket costing USD$2,500 in New York costs USD$1175. Average price for a 6kg front loader Washing Machine is USD$562, and USD$483 for a 46+'' LED UHD TV.

6) Groceries: Cost is low for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$500. Average grocery prices in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is USD$1.16, 1 kg oranges USD$1.51, 1 head lettuce USD$0.82, 1 kg potatos USD$0.60, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast USD$4.68, 1 kg cheddar cheese USD$5.79, 1 dozen large eggs USD$1.77, 500g loaf white bread USD$0.43, 1 L full cream milk USD$1.42, and 1.5 L water USD$0.52.

7) Healthcare: Cost is very low for general heath care, doctor visits, hospital stays, non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$480. Average healthcare cost for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is USD$39, and a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs is USD$1,196.

8) Household Accommodation: Cost is low for items such as apartment rent, house rent, property purchase, mortgage rate, and utilities. A basket costing USD$5,000 in New York costs USD$1550. Average expatriate house / apartment rent for a secure upmarket unfurnished apartment (3 bedrooms) is USD$1,373 in a central location, and USD$878 in a suburban location, per month, excluding utilities.

9) Miscellaneous: Cost is high for items such as dry cleaning, linen, magazines, newspapers, office supplies, and postage stamps. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$435. Average price for dry cleaning (1 mens 2 pc suit) is USD$8.46, while an international newspaper is USD$2.60.

10) Personal Care: Cost is low for items such as cosmetics, hair care, and toiletries. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$215. Average cost for a mens haircut and blow dry is USD$17, while a womens hair colour, cut and blow dry - medium length is USD$86.

11) Recreation & Culture: Cost is very low for items such as books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$220. Average price for a latest release international cinema ticket (average of on and off peak where applicable) for one adult is USD$6.31, and an international fitness, recreation or sports club membership cost for one adult is USD$41 per month.

12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Cost is very low for items such as hotel daily room rates, meals and beverages in a restaurant, and take away food and beverages. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$340. Average cappuccino price (regular, medium) is USD$2.15, coke/pepsi (330ml) USD$0.73, burger meal (international franchise or similar) USD$5.92, and a mid-range international restaurant meal for 2 USD$29.82.

13) Transport: Cost is very low for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), car hire, public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$500. Average average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is USD$0.84, while the benchmark car sedan purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy vehicle (1.4 L) is USD$11,389.

How does the cost of living in Tbilisi compare?

Tbilisi is -35% cheaper than Houston TX for groceries, -15.5% cheaper for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and -18.4% cheaper for transport costs than Dubai.

What is the quality of life / hardship in Tbilisi?

Tbilisi is ranked as a high degree of hardship location.The hardship premium for Tbilisi for an expat from Perth, is for example 20%, i.e. host location (Tbilisi) premium of 30% minus home (Perth) location premium of 10%.

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