'How much money do you need each month to live comfortably?' Street poll in Tbilisi. Video
We asked passers-by on the streets of Tbilisi how much money they need each month to live a normal life. We also asked what they actually mean by “a normal life”.
The answers vary widely. Some young people believe the amount should be at least 5,000–8,000 lari around $1,900–3,000 per person. Middle-aged and older respondents, meanwhile, say that 2,000 lari around $769 is enough for one person.
Meanwhile, the subsistence minimum for the average consumer in Georgia is 250.9 lari around $97.
Responses to the question of what constitutes a normal life also vary by age. For middle-aged and older people, having enough money for food, medication and utility bills already amounts to a normal life.
Here are several examples of the answers we received:
- “No excessive comfort, no leisure, just food and medication.”
- “The basics, at least food, right? Proper food. Children need clothes and shoes. Basic school supplies.”
- “To be able to go into a shop without worrying that if you buy this, you won’t have enough money left. Because absolutely everything is very expensive.”
Cafés and restaurants, trips out of town, shopping, leisure activities and travelling at least once a year, meanwhile, are all seen as part of a “luxurious life” among this age group.
We also asked our randomly selected respondents whether they had ever had to give something up because they lacked the money. It turned out to be a very common experience.
Cost of living in Georgia
