Cost of Living: Tbilisi vs Paris for Freelancers

Taxes are only half the equation. When French freelancers do the math on moving to Georgia, they usually focus on the 1% vs 45% tax comparison and stop there. But there's a second layer of financial benefit that makes the case even more compelling: Tbilisi is significantly cheaper to live in than Paris.

When you combine dramatically lower taxes with dramatically lower living costs, the total financial picture becomes extraordinary. A French freelancer earning €80,000/year who moves to Tbilisi doesn't just save €30,000 in taxes — they also live better, in a vibrant city with excellent food, culture, and connectivity, on roughly half the monthly expenditure of Paris.

This article presents real numbers, sourced from actual market rates in 2026, for every major category of living expense.

Overview: The Double Benefit

The case for Tbilisi rests on two simultaneous advantages:

• Lower taxes: 1% on turnover vs 35–50% in France (covered extensively in our tax comparison article)
• Lower cost of living: Tbilisi is 40–60% cheaper than Paris across most expense categories

Together, these compound. A Paris freelancer earning €80,000 might take home €45,000 after French taxes and then spend €36,000/year on living costs — leaving €9,000 to save or invest. The same freelancer in Tbilisi takes home €79,200 (after 1% tax) and spends €18,000–€22,000/year on the same quality of life — saving €57,000–€61,000 annually.

That's the equivalent of earning €150,000 in Paris.

Housing: Rent and Utilities

Tbilisi (2026 market rates):

Utilities (electricity, water, heating, internet) add €80–€150/month depending on season. Georgia uses gas central heating, which is efficient but the bills increase in the colder months (November–March).

Paris (2026 market rates):

Utilities in Paris add €100–€180/month. Add home/renters insurance (€15–€30/month) and you're looking at €1,500–€2,700/month just for housing in most Paris scenarios.

Typical saving on housing alone: €700–€1,800/month.

Food and Groceries

Eating out — Tbilisi:

• Local Georgian restaurant (full meal with wine): €8–€15
• Mid-range international restaurant: €15–€30/person
• Coffee (excellent Tbilisi coffee scene): €1.50–€3
• Wine (Georgian natural wine at a nice bar): €3–€6/glass
• Delivery food via Glovo/Wolt: €6–€15

Eating out — Paris:

• Brasserie lunch (plat du jour): €15–€20
• Mid-range restaurant (dinner): €25–€45/person without wine
• Coffee (café crème): €3–€5
• Wine at a bar: €7–€12/glass
• Delivery food via Deliveroo/UberEats: €15–€30

Groceries — Tbilisi:

A week's groceries for one person at a Tbilisi supermarket (Carrefour, Goodwill, or local markets): €30–€50. Local markets (Dezerter Bazaar, Varketili market) are significantly cheaper for produce, meat, and dairy. Georgian wine is exceptional and costs €3–€8/bottle at retail.

Groceries — Paris:

A week's groceries in Paris (Monoprix, Franprix, or Marché): €70–€110. Organic or speciality items are dramatically more expensive.

Typical saving on food: €400–€700/month.

Coworking and Office Space

Tbilisi has a rapidly growing coworking ecosystem, particularly in the Rustaveli, Vake, and Saburtalo areas. Major options include:

• Impact Hub Tbilisi: ~€150–€200/month for dedicated desk, excellent community
• Workup: €100–€180/month, modern facilities, reliable high-speed fiber
• Terminal: €120–€200/month, startup-oriented
• Fabrika: The famous Tbilisi creative complex — hot-desks and casual working from ~€50/month or pay-per-day at €8–€12

In Paris, comparable coworking options:

• WeWork Paris: €350–€600/month for a flexible desk
• Station F / NUMA / Morning: €250–€500/month
• Most quality coworkings in central arrondissements: €300–€600/month

Typical saving on workspace: €150–€350/month.

Transport

Tbilisi:

• Metro + bus monthly card: ~€8–€12
• Bolt/Yandex taxi (most common): €2–€5 for typical cross-city trip
• Car ownership: reasonable but optional — most central Tbilisi is walkable and well-served by taxis
• International flights: Tbilisi–Paris (Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, etc.): €150–€350 round trip, typically 4–6 hours

Paris:

• Navigo monthly pass (all zones): €86.40/month
• Taxi/Uber: €15–€40 for typical cross-city trip
• Car ownership in Paris: extremely expensive with parking (€100–€300/month in central areas)

Typical saving on transport: €80–€200/month.

Healthcare and Insurance

This is the category where France has a genuine advantage through its public health system. When you leave France, you lose access to Sécurité Sociale. In Georgia, you arrange private insurance.

Tbilisi healthcare options:

• Private international health insurance: Cigna, AXA, Allianz, or Georgian local plans — €50–€120/month for a comprehensive plan with international coverage
• Out-of-pocket medical care: Very affordable. GP visit: €15–€30. Specialist: €25–€60. Blood tests: €10–€25. Private hospital admission: €100–€300/day (high standard at major hospitals like GHG or Tbilisi Central Hospital).
• Dental: 50–70% cheaper than France for equivalent quality work

Paris healthcare:

For a French resident, healthcare is heavily subsidized through Sécurité Sociale. But auto-entrepreneurs pay for this through their 22% social charges. The true cost of French healthcare is embedded in your tax bill, not paid separately.

A useful way to think about this: the €22,200 you pay in social charges on €100K French revenue partly buys you health coverage worth perhaps €3,000–€5,000/year at market rates. Even after paying €1,200/year for Georgian private health insurance, you are still €17,000+ ahead.

Net healthcare cost comparison: Georgia wins significantly even accounting for private insurance.

Internet and Tech

Tbilisi has excellent internet infrastructure. Fiber broadband at home (1 Gbps): €15–€25/month. Mobile data (unlimited 4G/5G): €10–€20/month. In Paris, comparable services cost €35–€50/month for fiber and €20–€35/month for mobile.

Georgia also has no significant restrictions on internet services — all the usual SaaS tools, payment processors, and remote work platforms work without issues.

Social Life and Entertainment

Tbilisi is genuinely one of Europe's most vibrant cities for culture, nightlife, and cuisine:

• Wine bars and natural wine: Tbilisi is the world capital of natural wine (Georgia invented the qvevri method 8,000 years ago). Excellent bottles at €5–€15 at retail; wine bars open until 4am+
• Restaurant scene: rapidly developing, with excellent Georgian, pan-Asian, Middle Eastern, and European options
• Music and nightlife: world-class electronic music clubs (Bassiani, Khidi), live music venues, theater, opera
• Outdoor activities: skiing at Gudauri (90 min from Tbilisi), Black Sea beaches at Batumi (5 hrs), hiking in the Caucasus mountains
• Day trips to wine country (Kakheti), ancient cave cities (Uplistsikhe, Vardzia), and mountain towns

Entertainment budget in Tbilisi: €200–€500/month for an active social life. The same lifestyle in Paris: €600–€1,200/month.

Full Monthly Budget Comparison

That's a €24,240/year saving on cost of living alone, before accounting for any tax difference.

The Purchasing Power Calculation

Let's put the complete picture together for a freelancer earning €80,000/year:

The Tbilisi-based freelancer has 8.3× more savings capacity than their Paris counterpart on the same income. Alternatively, to have the same savings capacity in Paris, you'd need to earn €250,000+/year.

What's Better in Tbilisi (and What Isn't)

Better in Tbilisi:

• Wine culture: Unmatched in the world at this price point
• Friendliness: Georgians are famously hospitable; expats integrate well
• Safety: Tbilisi is genuinely safe — low violent crime rate
• Weather: 300+ sunny days/year, mild winters (cold but not Paris-damp)
• Access to nature: Mountains, sea, and wine country within a few hours
• Expat community: Large, active, diverse community of digital nomads and freelancers
• Food quality: Fresh, seasonal, minimal processing — Georgian cuisine is excellent

Trade-offs vs Paris:

• Healthcare system: Private care is excellent and affordable, but the public system is underdeveloped — you'll rely entirely on private
• Language: Georgian script is unique; most young people and business professionals speak English, but administrative and street-level Georgian is the norm
• Urban planning: Tbilisi has charm but also traffic congestion and inconsistent urban development
• Distance from French family: A 4–5 hour flight. More than Lyon, less than Montreal.
• EU consumer protections: Georgia is not in the EU, so some EU-specific protections (GDPR, consumer law) don't apply domestically

The consensus among French freelancers who have made the move is consistent: Tbilisi is not a sacrifice. It is a genuinely good city to live in. The tax and cost savings are the primary driver, but most who move end up staying longer than planned because they enjoy the lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tbilisi significantly cheaper than Paris for daily living?

Yes — substantially. Most cost-of-living indices place Tbilisi at 60–70% cheaper than Paris overall. Groceries are 50–60% cheaper, restaurants 70–75% cheaper, and transportation is a fraction of the cost. The largest difference is rent: a furnished 1-bedroom in central Tbilisi costs $400–$700/month compared to €1,500–€2,500 in Paris for comparable quality.

What is the average rent for a freelancer-quality apartment in Tbilisi?

In popular expat neighborhoods (Vera, Vake, Saburtalo, Old Town): furnished 1-bedroom apartments range from $400–$800/month. A modern 2-bedroom typically costs $600–$1,100/month. Utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet) add approximately $80–$150/month. Compare to Paris where a 1-bedroom studio easily costs €1,200–€1,800 in central arrondissements.

How much do coworking spaces cost in Tbilisi?

Day passes typically cost $8–$15. Monthly memberships for a hot desk range from $80–$200. Dedicated desks or private offices: $150–$400/month. Notable coworking spaces include Impact Hub, Fabrika Coworking, and Terminal. Compare to Paris coworking: €250–€600/month for a hot desk membership at comparable spaces.

What does healthcare cost for a freelancer in Tbilisi vs Paris?

In Georgia, private health insurance for a healthy adult costs approximately $50–$150/month (comprehensive private coverage). Doctor consultations at private clinics: $15–$40. Many freelancers choose mid-tier international health insurance at ~$100–$200/month. French auto-entrepreneurs pay ~5.5% of revenue in assurance maladie contributions plus any complementary mutuelle (€50–€150/month).

What is a realistic total monthly budget for a freelancer living in Tbilisi?

A comfortable lifestyle for a single freelancer: rent $500–$700, utilities/internet $100–$150, food $300–$500, health insurance $80–$120, transport $30–$50, coworking $100–$200, miscellaneous $100–$200. Total: approximately $1,200–$1,900/month. This compares to €3,500–€5,000+/month for a comparable lifestyle in Paris — savings of $25,000–$40,000/year on living costs alone.