Side by side

Austin vs Tbilisi

Tbilisi wins on more metrics — 3–4 on the 8 core metrics we track. Detail below.

Metric

Austin

Tbilisi

Cost of living

B vs A: -59%

30✓

Rent · 1BR center

B vs A: -69%

$1,750

$550✓

Effective tax (remote)

B vs A: -95%

20%

1%✓

Healthcare

B vs A: -17%

70✓

Safety

B vs A: +25%

80✓

Internet

B vs A: -82%

280✓

Climate

B vs A: ≈ same

Freedom

B vs A: -34%

88✓

No-state-income-tax tech hub. Rents have cooled from 2022 peak but live music, BBQ, and outdoor culture endure.

1-year visa-free stay for US citizens, dirt-cheap rent, and a small but growing remote-work scene at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.