🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,148 in Kaohsiung versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,899 in Kaohsiung versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,650 in Kaohsiung versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
🙂Living in Kaohsiung costs roughly 3% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kaohsiung14% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11NT$130
$11.15₾30.00
-63.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.83NT$1,068
$43.13₾116
-21.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.43NT$172
$8.22₾22.11
-33.94%
Cappuccino
$2.99NT$94.5
$3.13₾8.42
-4.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97NT$30.72
$0.74₾2.00
31.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72NT$22.88
$0.45₾1.22
60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68NT$53.0
$2.13₾5.74
-21.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79NT$88.0
$2.99₾8.06
-6.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.43NT$108
$1.89₾5.09
81.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.00NT$63.1
$0.73₾1.97
173.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61NT$82.4
$1.85₾4.98
41.08%
Eggs
$3.30NT$104
$2.45₾6.58
34.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.13NT$509
$7.85₾21.12
105.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45NT$298
$6.25₾16.82
51.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.56NT$554
$9.77₾26.28
79.73%
Apples(1kg)
$6.20NT$196
$1.21₾3.26
412.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59NT$81.7
$1.59₾4.28
62.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86NT$90.2
$1.79₾4.81
59.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00NT$126
$2.32₾6.25
72.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91NT$91.9
$0.71₾1.91
309.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23NT$70.3
$0.67₾1.81
232.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95NT$61.4
$1.18₾3.16
65.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19NT$37.64
$0.71₾1.92
67.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53NT$143
$2.92₾7.85
55.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.61NT$493
$7.25₾19.50
115.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67NT$52.6
$1.55₾4.17
7.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56NT$80.8
$2.31₾6.21
10.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82NT$25.94
$0.38₾1.03
115.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.95NT$851
$14.81₾39.83
81.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.91NT$91.8
$1.48₾3.98
96.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79NT$25.09
$0.69₾1.86
14.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12NT$193
$7.45₾20.05
-17.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03NT$32.46
$1.15₾3.10
-10.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KNT$1.1M
$18.0K₾48.4K
93.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KNT$809.5K
$19.8K₾53.4K
29.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102NT$3,231
$73.4₾198
39.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.62NT$809
$11.64₾31.32
120.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.09NT$792
$17.77₾47.79
41.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.67NT$1,252
$60.6₾163
-34.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.12NT$351
$16.44₾44.21
-32.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.98NT$315
$6.51₾17.52
53.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431NT$13.6K
$263₾707
64.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KNT$361.7K
$5,136₾13.8K
123.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4NT$3,075
$77.7₾209
25.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.83NT$1,131
$44.39₾119
-19.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1NT$2,781
$118₾317
-25.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104NT$3,268
$114₾307
-9.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442NT$13.9K
$693₾1,865
-36.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$279NT$8,821
$462₾1,244
-39.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$960NT$30.3K
$1,337₾3,597
-28.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$686NT$21.7K
$779₾2,096
-11.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,630NT$146.2K
$2,530₾6,805
83.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,248NT$102.5K
$1,430₾3,847
127.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaohsiung
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,533NT$48.4K
$633₾1,702
142.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.3
11.89
-80.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaohsiung: April 25, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Kaohsiung and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaohsiung pays 142% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Kaohsiung vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $384 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
Kaohsiung vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaohsiung and Tbilisi?
Kaohsiung and Tbilisi differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,148 vs $1,185 including rent). Kaohsiung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kaohsiung or Tbilisi?
Kaohsiung pays 142% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kaohsiung and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Kaohsiung versus $693 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 Kaohsiung and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $431 in Kaohsiung versus $263 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?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 87% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,148 in Kaohsiung versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaohsiung but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kaohsiung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaohsiung 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 Kaohsiung or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaohsiung 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: Kaohsiung or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Kaohsiung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.