Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Rai and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Rai: $710 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Rai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$710
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Rai and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Rai and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Chiang Rai versus $1,266 in Tbilisi.

  • Chiang Rai $710
  • Tbilisi $1,266

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Chiang Rai versus $2,007 in Tbilisi.

  • Chiang Rai $1,133
  • Tbilisi $2,007

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,556 in Chiang Rai versus $2,749 in Tbilisi.

  • Chiang Rai $1,556
  • Tbilisi $2,749

Living in Chiang Rai costs roughly 44% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Rai 47% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.19 ฿73.1
$11.34 ₾29.35
-80.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.08 ฿504
$39.05 ₾101
-61.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$9.63 ₾24.92
-43.20%
Cappuccino
$1.32 ฿44.11
$3.46 ₾8.95
-61.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.44
$1.09 ₾2.82
-41.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ฿8.97
$0.63 ₾1.62
-57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 ฿53.5
$2.77 ₾7.17
-42.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ฿122
$3.10 ₾8.04
17.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ฿66.4
$2.25 ₾5.81
-11.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.49
$0.80 ₾2.07
81.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿38.71
$1.76 ₾4.55
-34.09%
Eggs
$1.91 ฿63.7
$2.75 ₾7.11
-30.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.63 ฿556
$9.39 ₾24.32
77.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$6.66 ₾17.23
-58.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.06 ฿303
$12.92 ₾33.45
-29.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.1
$1.67 ₾4.31
43.71%
Banana (1kg)
$0.86 ฿28.60
$1.80 ₾4.65
-52.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$1.92 ₾4.97
-18.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 ฿31.22
$2.41 ₾6.24
-61.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 ฿40.89
$0.86 ₾2.23
41.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.52
$0.69 ₾1.80
53.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ฿25.83
$1.40 ₾3.62
-45.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.44
$0.71 ₾1.85
-26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77 ฿126
$3.51 ₾9.08
7.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.03 ฿603
$7.61 ₾19.69
136.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.7
$1.63 ₾4.21
-3.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿92.0
$2.31 ₾5.98
19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 ฿28.01
$0.37 ₾0.96
127.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.09 ฿738
$15.67 ₾40.57
40.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.68
$1.14 ₾2.95
7.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.76
$0.79 ₾2.05
-32.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿80.8
$11.86 ₾30.70
-79.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.94
$1.40 ₾3.62
-4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.0K
$24.8K ₾64.2K
-15.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$21.9K ₾56.6K
22.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.2 ฿2,046
$89.1 ₾231
-31.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.51 ฿418
$13.21 ₾34.19
-5.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.60 ฿455
$19.76 ₾51.1
-31.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.64 ฿1,191
$64.9 ₾168
-45.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.85 ฿196
$19.02 ₾49.24
-69.24%
Cinema Ticket
$2.95 ฿98.5
$6.57 ₾17.02
-55.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$783 ฿26.2K
$377 ₾975
107.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿492.1K
$10.8K ₾27.9K
36.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 ฿1,849
$102 ₾265
-45.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.42 ฿816
$39.70 ₾103
-38.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 ฿2,530
$118 ₾305
-35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6 ฿2,393
$123 ₾320
-42.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$228 ฿7,613
$666 ₾1,724
-65.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 ฿5,047
$449 ₾1,163
-66.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.0K
$1,284 ₾3,324
-60.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ฿12.0K
$890 ₾2,303
-59.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,911 ฿63.9K
$2,425 ₾6,276
-21.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$967 ฿32.3K
$1,380 ₾3,573
-29.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Rai
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$583 ฿19.5K
$680 ₾1,760
-14.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12.62
-55.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Rai: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Rai
$230
Tbilisi
$234 1.5% $3.4
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Rai
$151
Tbilisi
$449 198% $298
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Rai
$102
Tbilisi
$172 68.7% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Rai
$87
Tbilisi
$122 39.8% $35
Eating Out
Chiang Rai
$69
Tbilisi
$188 174% $119
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Rai
$42
Tbilisi
$78 87.9% $37
Getting Around
Chiang Rai
$29
Tbilisi
$22 24.1% $7.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $228 in Chiang Rai and $666 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15.00 in Chiang Rai vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $234 per month, with Chiang Rai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Rai
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
03:04 3:04 AM
00:04 12:04 AM
3 h behind Chiang Rai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,672
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Rai Tbilisi 5,670 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Rai
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Chiang Rai vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Rai and in Tbilisi?
Chiang Rai and Tbilisi differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($710 vs $1,266 including rent). Chiang Rai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Rai and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $228 in Chiang Rai versus $666 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chiang Rai and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $783 in Chiang Rai versus $377 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $710 in Chiang Rai versus $1,266 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Rai but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Rai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Rai and Tbilisi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chiang Rai or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Rai and Tbilisi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Chiang Rai or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Chiang Rai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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