😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,239 in Kawagoe versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Kawagoe versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,766 in Kawagoe versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Kawagoe is roughly 3% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kawagoe8% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.99¥1,119
$10.80₾28.70
-35.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.40¥5,503
$43.18₾115
-20.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.08¥812
$8.29₾22.03
-38.72%
Cappuccino
$2.89¥463
$3.00₾7.96
-3.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06¥169
$0.82₾2.17
29.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75¥120
$0.46₾1.21
63.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04¥326
$2.23₾5.93
-8.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14¥342
$2.92₾7.75
-26.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75¥280
$1.93₾5.11
-9.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92¥307
$0.68₾1.81
182.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.86¥1,257
$1.88₾4.99
318.09%
Eggs
$1.50¥239
$2.54₾6.73
-40.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.05¥1,928
$7.42₾19.70
62.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.15¥1,943
$6.19₾16.43
96.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.81¥2,688
$9.36₾24.86
79.59%
Apples(1kg)
$7.69¥1,229
$1.22₾3.25
530.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55¥407
$1.66₾4.40
53.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.60¥736
$1.80₾4.78
155.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60¥737
$2.24₾5.96
105.36%
Potato(1kg)
$3.69¥590
$0.71₾1.89
419.72%
Onion(1kg)
$3.70¥592
$0.67₾1.79
452.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.31¥370
$1.18₾3.13
95.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24¥198
$0.66₾1.76
87.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23¥676
$2.98₾7.91
41.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25¥1,319
$7.61₾20.21
8.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57¥411
$1.54₾4.08
66.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38¥541
$2.25₾5.98
50.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58¥253
$0.36₾0.95
338.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.1¥8,805
$14.44₾38.36
281.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44¥550
$1.49₾3.96
130.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.98¥477
$0.68₾1.82
338.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.79¥3,325
$7.23₾19.19
187.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥192
$1.14₾3.04
5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K¥3.8M
$18.5K₾49.0K
30.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥2.7M
$20.0K₾53.0K
-14.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.9¥13.6K
$73.7₾196
15.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.57¥1,691
$11.64₾30.91
-9.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.16¥2,744
$17.84₾47.39
-3.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.2¥11.9K
$60.1₾160
23.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.04¥2,245
$16.80₾44.63
-16.43%
Cinema Ticket
$11.34¥1,814
$6.60₾17.54
71.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281¥45.0K
$266₾708
5.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K¥2.1M
$5,191₾13.8K
154.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.74¥6,837
$77.7₾206
-44.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.01¥4,801
$44.75₾119
-32.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1¥9,620
$117₾310
-48.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.0¥15.4K
$113₾300
-14.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464¥74.2K
$693₾1,839
-33.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$325¥51.9K
$462₾1,226
-29.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$865¥138.4K
$1,320₾3,505
-34.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660¥105.6K
$774₾2,056
-14.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468¥394.8K
$2,430₾6,455
1.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,363¥378.0K
$1,446₾3,840
63.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,589¥254.1K
$673₾1,787
136.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
11.89
-83.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kawagoe: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $464 in Kawagoe and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kawagoe pays 136% 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: $34.00 in Kawagoe vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $203, 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
Kawagoe vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kawagoe and Tbilisi?
Kawagoe and Tbilisi differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,239 vs $1,209 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kawagoe or Tbilisi?
Kawagoe pays 136% 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 Kawagoe and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $464 in Kawagoe versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $34.00 in Kawagoe. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kawagoe or Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,239 per month in Kawagoe versus $1,209 in Tbilisi – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,239 in Kawagoe, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Kawagoe. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kawagoe 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 Kawagoe or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kawagoe 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: Kawagoe or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Kawagoe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.