🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $933 in Cotonou versus $1,279 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,498 in Cotonou versus $2,011 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,062 in Cotonou versus $2,743 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Cotonou costs roughly 27% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cotonou32% lower, Tbilisi7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29F CFA 2,990
$11.43₾29.72
-53.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.57F CFA 20.7K
$38.16₾99.2
-4.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.83F CFA 5,552
$9.40₾24.45
4.57%
Cappuccino
$5.39F CFA 3,046
$3.38₾8.78
59.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08F CFA 608
$1.04₾2.70
3.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99F CFA 557
$0.60₾1.56
65.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.85F CFA 481
$2.71₾7.05
-68.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63F CFA 1,486
$3.04₾7.90
-13.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.11F CFA 1,760
$2.27₾5.90
37.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23F CFA 697
$0.79₾2.04
55.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92F CFA 1,082
$1.62₾4.21
18.52%
Eggs
$2.76F CFA 1,557
$2.74₾7.13
0.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.92F CFA 5,605
$9.30₾24.19
6.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.65F CFA 3,192
$6.79₾17.65
-16.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.27F CFA 2,978
$13.01₾33.84
-59.49%
Apples(1kg)
$4.27F CFA 2,413
$1.64₾4.27
160.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87F CFA 1,057
$1.83₾4.77
2.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33F CFA 751
$1.90₾4.94
-30.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81F CFA 1,587
$2.57₾6.68
9.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31F CFA 742
$0.84₾2.19
55.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82F CFA 1,030
$0.65₾1.70
180.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48F CFA 273
$1.36₾3.54
-64.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12F CFA 634
$0.80₾2.07
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45F CFA 1,950
$3.40₾8.85
1.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.31F CFA 2,437
$7.67₾19.94
-43.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26F CFA 711
$1.68₾4.36
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94F CFA 1,095
$2.38₾6.18
-18.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31F CFA 739
$0.39₾1.02
235.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$15.55₾40.44
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43F CFA 809
$1.14₾2.96
25.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40F CFA 791
$0.74₾1.93
89.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$11.32₾29.42
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22F CFA 687
$1.38₾3.60
-11.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$24.6K₾63.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KF CFA 13.8M
$22.0K₾57.2K
10.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155F CFA 87.6K
$88.7₾231
74.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.18F CFA 19.9K
$13.18₾34.26
166.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.94F CFA 28.2K
$19.68₾51.2
153.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.1F CFA 28.9K
$68.3₾177
-25.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.50F CFA 1,976
$17.94₾46.65
-80.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.92F CFA 5,041
$6.42₾16.70
38.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$135F CFA 76.5K
$372₾967
-63.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,847F CFA 3.3M
$10.8K₾28.1K
-45.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84F CFA 15.2K
$105₾272
-74.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.83₾101
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.63F CFA 20.1K
$115₾299
-68.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4F CFA 39.8K
$122₾318
-42.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$186F CFA 105.3K
$681₾1,770
-72.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175F CFA 99.1K
$456₾1,185
-61.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619F CFA 349.8K
$1,312₾3,410
-52.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$419F CFA 237.0K
$892₾2,321
-53.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,391₾6,216
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,425₾3,704
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$262F CFA 148.1K
$640₾1,663
-59.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
12.62
-68.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cotonou: September 7, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $186 in Cotonou and $681 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 144% 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: $37.00 in Cotonou vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $236 per month, with Cotonou cheaper across the board.
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
Cotonou vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Cotonou?
Cotonou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cotonou or Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 144% 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.
What is the rent difference between Cotonou and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $186 in Cotonou versus $681 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cotonou and in Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cotonou and in Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $933 per month in Cotonou versus $1,279 in Tbilisi – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cotonou or in Tbilisi?
At $933 in Cotonou versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cotonou but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Cotonou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cotonou or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Cotonou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cotonou or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Cotonou 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cotonou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.