Tbilisi vs Lisbon: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Tbilisi costs roughly 38% less than Lisbon. Lisbon scores higher for retirees on healthcare and overall livability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Tbilisi is approximately 135% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Tbilisi a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Tbilisi has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 67, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Tbilisi is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the rare capital where a single adult can live on a mid-range budget of $919/mo, and the $679/mo city-center one-bedroom is a genuine bargain compared to Western Europe. The catch is the local economy: an average net salary of $697/mo means expats who earn remotely or in dollars thrive while those hunting local work struggle. Add a large, active expat community, a cost of living index of 39/100, and an overall expat score of 81/100, and Tbilisi earns its place as a top-tier base for digital nomads and early retirees. Just brace for an air quality index of 72 and arid summers that make the $88/mo utilities bill feel like a bargain.
About Georgia
Skip this one if you need a dedicated retirement visa or high-quality healthcare (55.6 index, no clear retirement pathway). Georgia works for remote workers: the digital nomad visa needs just $24,657/mo income, rent runs $509/mo in-center, and 20% flat tax keeps math simple. Best for younger, flexible expats, not retirees prioritizing medical infrastructure.
$2,081/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Lisbon
Lisbon is the rare European capital where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,137/mo and still walk past tiled facades to a $3 cappuccino. The catch is the salary math: local net pay averages $1,572/mo while a city-center one-bedroom runs $1,596/mo, so remote workers and D7 retirees win here far more than job seekers do. With a cost of living index of 54/100, an expat score of 86/100, and excellent healthcare, the tradeoff is real but the value is undeniable. Come for the light and the $45/mo transport pass, stay if your income does not depend on Lisbon.
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
$1,176/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Tbilisi | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $679.48 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $452.81 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1302.23 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $880.1 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 67 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 40.2Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Tbilisi | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $972/mo | $1,890/mo |
| Excluding rent | $519/mo | $700/mo |
| Rent | $453/mo | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | $149/mo | $168/mo |
| Dining out | $113/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $120/mo | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $121/mo | $217/mo |
| Transport | $16.00/mo | $45.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Tbilisi vs Lisbon -- Frequently Asked Questions
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