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Lugano vs Tbilisi

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Lugano, CH vs Tbilisi, GE at a glance — Tbilisi, GE is 68% cheaper than Lugano, CH overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $500/mo versus $1,800/mo. Top income tax: 20% vs 40%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Tbilisi, GE, you'd need

$23,641 / year

Tbilisi, GE is 68% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Tbilisi, GE vs Lugano, CH)

  • Housing-75%
  • Food & groceries-70%
  • Transport-70%
  • Utilities-55%
  • Healthcare-64%
  • Goods & services-65%

◎ How Lugano, CH and Tbilisi, GE compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Lugano, CHTbilisi, GE

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Lugano, CHTbilisi, GE
Cost of living
Overall cost index14746
Housing16040
Food15045
Transport11535
Utilities12255
Healthcare14050
Goods & services15555
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,800/mo$500/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside—$320/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre—$1,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre—$1,300
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$679$2,153
Inexpensive meal—$5
Monthly transit pass—$12
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)40%20%
VAT / sales tax8.1%18%
Corporate tax15%15%
Capital gains0%—
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$6,000/mo$600/mo
GDP per capita$114,769✓$8,120✓
Inflation (annual)0.2%✓2.5%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiency—Moderate
Coworking spaces—25
Time zone—UTC+4
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)—59
Safety index—70
Healthcare index—55
Pollution index—60
Internet speed—40 Mbps
Walkability—60
Public transport—55
Family-friendly—58
Tap water—Safe to drink
Life expectancy84 yr✓73 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighLow
Climate
January avg—+3 °C
July avg—+25 °C
Sunny days / year—210
Rainfall / year—500 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub—3 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Switzerland vs Georgia. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Lugano vs Tbilisi — in your currency

LuganoTbilisi
1-bed rent, city centre$1,800$500
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,350$320

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Lugano

Currency
Swiss franc (Fr. CHF)
Languages
German, French, Italian
Power
J · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side

Good to know before you move to Tbilisi

A full year visa-free, a 1% small-business tax and cheap rents have made Georgia's wine-and-sulphur-bath capital a low-tax nomad magnet. Old-town charm and fast growth, weighed against regional geopolitics.

Currency
Georgian lari (₾ GEL)
Languages
Georgian
Time zone
UTC+4
Internet
40 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
70/100
Climate
❄ 3°C · ☀ 25°C · 210 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
C/F · 220V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Vera · Vake · Sololaki · Saburtalo

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Lugano to Tbilisi: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Lugano to Tbilisi, your cost of living will be roughly 68% cheaper. Tbilisi’s cost-of-living index is 46 versus 147 for Lugano (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Lugano cheaper than Tbilisi?

Tbilisi is about 68% cheaper than Lugano overall — its cost-of-living index is 46 versus 147 for Lugano.

Which is more expensive, Lugano or Tbilisi?

Lugano is more expensive than Tbilisi. Its cost-of-living index is 147 vs 46 (US = 100) — about 220% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Lugano or Tbilisi?

Rent is cheaper in Tbilisi — about $500/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $1,800 in Lugano.

How much do you need to earn in Tbilisi to live like in Lugano?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Lugano is worth about $23,641 in Tbilisi. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Lugano or Tbilisi?

Georgia has the lower top income-tax rate — 20% versus 40% in Switzerland.

◷ More comparisons from Lugano

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.