🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $527 in Kalutara versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $865 in Kalutara versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Kalutara versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
🙂Living in Kalutara costs roughly 56% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kalutara61% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93LKR 1,252
$11.15₾30.00
-64.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.04LKR 7,977
$43.13₾116
-41.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.48LKR 2,702
$8.22₾22.11
3.16%
Cappuccino
$2.71LKR 865
$3.13₾8.42
-13.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 221
$0.74₾2.00
-6.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LKR 129
$0.45₾1.22
-8.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30LKR 732
$2.13₾5.74
7.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33LKR 1,060
$2.99₾8.06
11.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71LKR 545
$1.89₾5.09
-9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52LKR 167
$0.73₾1.97
-28.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80LKR 256
$1.85₾4.98
-56.76%
Eggs
$2.13LKR 680
$2.45₾6.58
-13.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.90LKR 4,429
$7.85₾21.12
77.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72LKR 1,503
$6.25₾16.82
-24.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81LKR 2,487
$9.77₾26.28
-20.06%
Apples(1kg)
$7.46LKR 2,377
$1.21₾3.26
516.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12LKR 355
$1.59₾4.28
-29.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.82LKR 1,855
$1.79₾4.81
225.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19LKR 380
$2.32₾6.25
-48.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 371
$0.71₾1.91
63.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40LKR 447
$0.67₾1.81
108.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 362
$1.18₾3.16
-3.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60LKR 191
$0.71₾1.92
-15.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15LKR 3,235
$2.92₾7.85
247.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.69LKR 4,042
$7.25₾19.50
75.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00LKR 636
$1.55₾4.17
29.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94LKR 938
$2.31₾6.21
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38₾1.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.81₾39.83
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41LKR 132
$1.48₾3.98
-72.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32LKR 103
$0.69₾1.86
-53.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.62LKR 197
$7.45₾20.05
-91.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 401
$1.15₾3.10
9.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KLKR 8.5M
$18.0K₾48.4K
47.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KLKR 11.1M
$19.8K₾53.4K
75.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.3LKR 18.9K
$73.4₾198
-19.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34LKR 1,384
$11.64₾31.32
-62.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.85LKR 4,730
$17.77₾47.79
-16.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.16LKR 3,237
$60.6₾163
-83.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.27LKR 1,042
$6.51₾17.52
-49.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.30LKR 11.9K
$263₾707
-85.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$447LKR 142.4K
$5,136₾13.8K
-91.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.50LKR 8,762
$77.7₾209
-64.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70LKR 6,276
$44.39₾119
-55.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.4LKR 22.1K
$118₾317
-41.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.84LKR 12.4K
$114₾307
-65.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$693₾1,865
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$462₾1,244
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,337₾3,597
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$779₾2,096
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,530₾6,805
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,430₾3,847
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$633₾1,702
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
11.89
38.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalutara: April 26, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Kalutara vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $206, 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
Kalutara vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalutara or Tbilisi?
Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalutara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalutara vs Tbilisi?
You'd need roughly $790 in Kalutara and $1,777 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalutara and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $37.30 in Kalutara versus $263 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Kalutara vs Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalutara or Tbilisi?
At $527 in Kalutara versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kalutara but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kalutara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalutara or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kalutara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $527 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kalutara hard to pass up.
How safe is Kalutara compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Kalutara 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kalutara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.