About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Mohamed Oun
Tbilisi
#8 of 124
Europe

Tbilisi

Georgia

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Tbilisi compare to Berlin?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Tbilisi is 60% better off vs in Berlin

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Tbilisi compared to Berlin, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$48,000
-$51K (-51%) vs Berlin
Based on 221 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$47,520
-$11K (-19%) vs Berlin
Tax Rate: 1%

Community Insights

New

Tbilisi has emerged as a top-tier destination for freelance software engineers and digital nomads, primarily driven by its unbeatable 1% tax scheme and generous visa policy. For a remote worker earning a Western salary, the financial arbitrage is immense, allowing for a high quality of life and rapid savings.

However, the city requires a certain level of adaptability. It is not a polished, sterile European capital; it is gritty, charming, and sometimes chaotic. The infrastructure is generally good for work (internet, banking), but the environmental factors (pollution, traffic) and occasional political tension are real trade-offs that long-term residents often grapple with.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents, especially transplants from the West, often express a 'love-hate' relationship. They deeply value the freedom, community, and financial benefits that Tbilisi affords them. Many claim they 'fell in love' with the hospitality and food instantly.

However, sentiment has dipped slightly recently due to rising rents and political uncertainty. Long-term residents are the most vocal about the pollution and noise, with some moving to the outskirts (like Vake or Saburtalo) to escape the smog while staying close to the tech scene.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Berlin.

Rankings

Tax Rate

Top 3%

#4

of 124 cities

1%

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Top 6%

#8

of 124 cities

Home Affordability

Top 12%

#15

of 124 cities

≈3.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Tbilisi compared to Berlin?

Avg. Property Price
$1,820 / m²
76% cheaper than Berlin
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Tbilisi to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
49% cheaper than Berlin
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Tbilisi

SOFTSWISS logo
SOFTSWISS
Arrival logo
Arrival
Devexperts logo
Devexperts

The Good

  • 1% Tax Rate: The 'Small Business Status' allows individual entrepreneurs (freelancers/contractors) to pay only 1% tax on turnover up to a high limit, which is a massive financial incentive for remote software engineers.
  • Visa Regime: Extremely generous 1-year visa-free stay for citizens of many countries (including US, EU, UK), making it one of the easiest places to legally test-run without bureaucratic headaches.
  • Low Cost of Living: While rents have risen, everyday expenses like dining out, transport, and utilities remain significantly cheaper than in Western Europe or North America, allowing for a high savings rate on a Western salary.
  • Reliable Fiber Internet: Most central apartments have access to high-speed fiber (Magti/Silknet), and mobile data is cheap and fast, making remote work reliable.
  • Safety: Consistently ranked as very safe regarding violent crime; residents report feeling safe walking alone at night.

The Bad

  • Air Quality & Pollution: A frequent and major complaint; the city sits in a valley that traps exhaust fumes, and air quality can be poor, especially in winter or heavy traffic areas.
  • Traffic & Driving Culture: Driving is often described as chaotic and aggressive; traffic jams are common, and pedestrian infrastructure can be lacking in some neighborhoods.
  • Language Barrier: While younger generations and tech workers speak English, dealing with older generations, taxi drivers, or government bureaucracy often requires Georgian or Russian.
  • Geopolitical Anxiety: Recent protests and the political climate (e.g., 'Foreign Agent' bill) have caused uneasiness among the expat community regarding the country's future trajectory.
  • Customer Service: Service standards can be inconsistent and blunt compared to Western expectations, often described by residents as a 'post-Soviet' service mentality.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The Tax-Savvy Freelancer: If you are a contractor making $50k-$150k+ remotely, moving here is effectively giving yourself a massive raise due to the cost of living and the 1% tax rate.

The Adventure Nomad: Someone who appreciates a 'rough around the edges' charm, enjoys wine culture and hiking, and prefers a city with personality over one with perfect punctuality.

Skip it if...

The Corporate Climber: Local SWE salaries are significantly lower than in the West. If you need a local job rather than bringing your own remote work, you will take a massive pay cut.

The Health-Sensitive Urbanist: If you have asthma or are sensitive to air pollution, the air quality in the city center will likely be a dealbreaker. Those expecting perfectly manicured sidewalks and orderly traffic will also struggle.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather4.6/10+21% vs Berlin
Safety75+34%
Pollution72+87%
Events0-100%
4.6/10TechCities weather score vs 3.8/10 in Berlin

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
18°C(vs 14°C in Berlin)
Average Low
8°C(vs 6°C in Berlin)
Sunshine Hours
2,046h/yr+420h/yr(+26%)
Hottest Month High
30°C(vs 24°C in Berlin)
Coldest Month Low
-2°C(same as Berlin)
Rainy Days
53/yr-26/yr(-33%)

Community & Quality

Tbilisi community pulse

Tbilisi has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than Berlin.

Cost of Living

Top 15%

#18

of 124 cities

28/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 15%

#18

of 124 cities

74.6/100

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#54

of 124 cities

46/100 weather score

Current value

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#73

of 124 cities

$47,520/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 16%

#106

of 124 cities

71.8/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Bottom 3%

#122

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

SWE Affordability
3.1 years
7.2 years quicker than Berlin
Muggy Days
13/yr+12/yr(+850%)
Cloud Cover
38%(vs 57% in Berlin)