Cost Of Living For a Family in Georgia 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Georgia

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Georgia?

Families in Georgia spend around 9,800 GEL per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,400 GEL or as high as 64,000 GEL. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Georgia

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Georgia

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Georgia spend around 86% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 77% of their income while some as high as 96%.

How do families spend their money in Georgia?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Georgia typically spend from 25% to 40% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 30% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 3,100 GEL with expenditure ranging from 1,100 GEL to 20,000 GEL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Georgia ranges from 2% to 7% of total expenses with 4% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 490 GEL with 170 GEL and 3,200 GEL being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 340 GEL to 6,400 GEL in a month on commuting with 980 GEL being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 9%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Georgia is 1,800 GEL. The cost of groceries can range between 620 GEL to 11,000 GEL. Families spend on average about 19% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 12% and 25% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Georgia allocate 5% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 310 GEL to 5,100 GEL with 980 GEL being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 170 GEL to 3,200 GEL with 490 GEL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 14% of the monthly expenditure of families with 7% and 22% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,400 GEL per month with 480 GEL being the minimum spent amount and 8,900 GEL being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Georgia are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 60% of surveyed families in Georgia said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 40% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 13% to 31% of their monthly income to their savings, with 21% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 3,800 GEL with 1,300 GEL and 24,000 GEL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Georgia

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Georgia. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 7% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 10% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 20% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 8% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 15% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 9% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 4% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Georgia

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Georgia

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Georgia?

Around 74% of surveyed families think that living in Georgia is affordable with proper budgeting while 26% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Georgia

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options62%

Few low-cost options38%

Based on the survey, 62% of the families living in Georgia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 38% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Georgia whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes74%

No26%

Based on the survey, 26% of the families living in Georgia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 74% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Georgia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy69%

We asked family guardians and parents in Georgia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 31% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 69% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Georgia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 21% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 79% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance21%

Easily manages finances79%

Financial goals of families in Georgia

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Georgia, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 6% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 28% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 6% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 9% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 16% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 10% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 13% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 7% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Georgia

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 22% of the families in Georgia have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 78% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Georgia

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 27% of a family's monthly income in Georgia goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 2% of the debtors in Georgia pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 8% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 10% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 12% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 17% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Georgia

15% of debtors in Georgia confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 23% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 26% of people and personal loans rose at 33%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Georgia.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Georgia

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Georgia how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Georgia

Rent Cost in Georgia

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

560 GEL

850 GEL

2,300 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$320

$850

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

850 GEL

1,400 GEL

3,400 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$320

$510

$1,300

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,100 GEL

1,700 GEL

4,500 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420

$640

$1,700

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 GEL

2,300 GEL

6,200 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510

$850

$2,300

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

2,700 GEL

6,800 GEL

14,000 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$2,500

$5,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2,300 GEL

3,400 GEL

9,700 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$850

$1,300

$3,600

House monthly rent cost

2,700 GEL

6,800 GEL

14,000 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$2,500

$5,100

Villa monthly rent cost

3,400 GEL

8,500 GEL

14,000 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,200

$5,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Georgia ranges between 560 GEL and 2,300 GEL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 850 GEL to 3,400 GEL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,100 GEL and 4,500 GEL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,400 GEL to 6,200 GEL. The average rent of a townhouse in Georgia is around 3,400 GEL while house rental costs can be as high as 6,800 GEL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,400 GEL to 14,000 GEL per month.

Apartment and house prices in Georgia

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

110,000 GEL

170,000 GEL

340,000 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42,000

$64,000

$130,000

1-bedroom apartment price

140,000 GEL

230,000 GEL

850,000 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$51,000

$85,000

$320,000

2-bedroom apartment price

230,000 GEL

680,000 GEL

1.4M GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$85,000

$250,000

$510,000

3-bedroom apartment price

750,000 GEL

1.1M GEL

3.4M GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$280,000

$420,000

$1.3M

Townhouse price

970,000 GEL

2.3M GEL

8.5M GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360,000

$850,000

$3.2M

House price

1.1M GEL

6.8M GEL

9.7M GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420,000

$2.5M

$3.6M

Villa price

1.4M GEL

7.5M GEL

11M GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510,000

$2.8M

$4.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Georgia can range from 110,000 GEL to 340,000 GEL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 140,000 GEL to 850,000 GEL. A villa can cost you 7.5M GEL on average with prices ranging from 1.4M GEL to 11M GEL.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Georgia can be x133 to x220 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x133 multiples of the average monthly salary in Georgia.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Georgia is around 33%. This means that people pay 33% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 43% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Georgia

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Georgia

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

170 GEL

490 GEL

3,200 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$64

$180

$1,200

Internet and cable cost

34 GEL

68 GEL

90 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$25

$34

Mobile phone bill and charges

27 GEL

45 GEL

140 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$17

$51

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 490 GEL. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 34 GEL to 90 GEL with 68 GEL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 45 GEL but can range between 27 GEL and 140 GEL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Georgia is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Georgia

Prices and cost of goods and services in Georgia

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

6.8 GEL

14 GEL

23 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$5.1

$8.5

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Georgia is approximatly 14 GEL with meal cost ranging from 6.8 GEL to 23 GEL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

23 GEL

34 GEL

68 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.5

$13

$25

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 23 GEL and 68 GEL with 34 GEL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Georgia.

Fine dining meal for one price

45 GEL

68 GEL

270 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$25

$100

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 45 GEL to 270 GEL with the average cost being 68 GEL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Georgia.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

5.6 GEL

9 GEL

14 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$3.4

$5.1

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Georgia is around 9 GEL. Price ranges between 5.6 GEL and 14 GEL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

4.5 GEL

5.4 GEL

6.8 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2

$2.5

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Georgia is 5.4 GEL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6.8 GEL and the minimum being 4.5 GEL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

3.4 GEL

4.5 GEL

6.8 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$1.7

$2.5

A dozen eggs costs around 4.5 GEL on average with 3.4 GEL and 6.8 GEL being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

7.7 GEL

10 GEL

14 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$3.7

$5.3

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Georgia is between 7.7 GEL and 14 GEL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 10 GEL.

Pack of beef price

9 GEL

14 GEL

27 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.4

$5.1

$10

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 14 GEL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

3.6 GEL

5 GEL

7.1 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.9

$2.7

A bag of rice in Georgia costs around 5 GEL on average with prices rangeing between 3.6 GEL and 7.1 GEL depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.4 GEL

1.8 GEL

3.4 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.51

$0.68

$1.3

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.4 GEL to 3.4 GEL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

2.4 GEL

3.2 GEL

5.2 GEL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.91

$1.2

$2

A bag of apples costs 3.2 GEL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Georgia is around 25%. This means that families spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 31% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families