🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $997 in Cotonou versus $1,191 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Cotonou versus $1,856 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,854 in Cotonou versus $2,522 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Cotonou costs roughly 16% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cotonou25% lower, Tbilisi11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46F CFA 1,980
$10.91₾28.57
-68.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.77F CFA 15.3K
$43.19₾113
-38.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16F CFA 2,946
$8.53₾22.32
-39.51%
Cappuccino
$5.56F CFA 3,175
$2.99₾7.82
85.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 492
$0.81₾2.12
6.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79F CFA 449
$0.42₾1.09
88.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.40F CFA 799
$2.16₾5.66
-35.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61F CFA 2,060
$2.88₾7.53
25.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58F CFA 1,472
$1.94₾5.08
32.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44F CFA 820
$0.68₾1.77
111.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92F CFA 1,100
$1.85₾4.83
3.78%
Eggs
$2.22F CFA 1,271
$2.53₾6.63
-12.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.25F CFA 5,288
$7.53₾19.70
22.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.05F CFA 2,888
$6.26₾16.40
-19.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.16F CFA 2,949
$9.59₾25.10
-46.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.88F CFA 2,217
$1.16₾3.04
234.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37F CFA 784
$1.64₾4.29
-16.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.21F CFA 694
$1.88₾4.93
-35.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74F CFA 995
$2.23₾5.84
-21.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34F CFA 766
$0.70₾1.83
91.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50F CFA 859
$0.64₾1.68
134.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51F CFA 293
$1.18₾3.10
-56.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23F CFA 705
$0.70₾1.83
75.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35F CFA 1,341
$2.97₾7.79
-20.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.28F CFA 2,446
$7.43₾19.46
-42.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20F CFA 686
$1.54₾4.03
-22.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29F CFA 1,309
$2.28₾5.98
0.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.80F CFA 1,030
$0.36₾0.93
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.73₾38.56
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38F CFA 789
$1.42₾3.71
-2.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25F CFA 712
$0.69₾1.81
81.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.74F CFA 994
$7.27₾19.02
-76.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11F CFA 636
$1.09₾2.86
1.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.3K₾48.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KF CFA 14.2M
$20.5K₾53.6K
21.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266F CFA 152.1K
$74.4₾195
258.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.54F CFA 24.9K
$11.71₾30.65
271.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1F CFA 32.0K
$17.60₾46.08
218.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.8F CFA 33.6K
$60.3₾158
-2.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.40F CFA 3,086
$16.29₾42.65
-66.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.51F CFA 4,294
$6.51₾17.03
15.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$185F CFA 105.5K
$269₾704
-31.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,379F CFA 3.6M
$5,154₾13.5K
23.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.45F CFA 9,972
$77.1₾202
-77.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.70F CFA 4,972
$43.48₾114
-79.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$9.04F CFA 5,169
$118₾310
-92.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.16F CFA 28.1K
$113₾295
-56.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199F CFA 113.8K
$709₾1,857
-71.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$149F CFA 85.2K
$465₾1,216
-67.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$571F CFA 326.4K
$1,316₾3,444
-56.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$283F CFA 161.6K
$767₾2,007
-63.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,492₾6,525
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,442₾3,775
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotonou
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171F CFA 97.9K
$663₾1,735
-74.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.89
-57.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cotonou: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Cotonou and $709 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 287% 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: $27.00 in Cotonou vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $204, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cotonou or Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 287% 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: $199 in Cotonou versus $709 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?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Cotonou and in Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $997 per month in Cotonou versus $1,191 in Tbilisi – a 19% 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 $997 in Cotonou versus $1,191 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 19% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.