🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,221 in Kawagoe versus $1,279 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,977 in Kawagoe versus $2,011 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,733 in Kawagoe versus $2,743 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Kawagoe costs roughly 5% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kawagoe11% lower, Tbilisi7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.63¥1,018
$11.43₾29.72
-41.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.66¥6,551
$38.16₾99.2
11.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.12¥786
$9.40₾24.45
-45.53%
Cappuccino
$3.50¥538
$3.38₾8.78
3.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93¥143
$1.04₾2.70
-10.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50¥77.5
$0.60₾1.56
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93¥296
$2.71₾7.05
-28.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81¥432
$3.04₾7.90
-7.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19¥183
$2.27₾5.90
-47.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29¥198
$0.79₾2.04
63.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.79¥582
$1.62₾4.21
133.95%
Eggs
$2.13¥327
$2.74₾7.13
-22.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.34¥974
$9.30₾24.19
-31.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04¥927
$6.79₾17.65
-11.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.80¥2,273
$13.01₾33.84
13.76%
Apples(1kg)
$5.95¥913
$1.64₾4.27
262.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33¥358
$1.83₾4.77
27.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91¥447
$1.90₾4.94
53.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23¥495
$2.57₾6.68
25.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71¥417
$0.84₾2.19
222.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92¥295
$0.65₾1.70
195.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27¥195
$1.36₾3.54
-6.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77¥118
$0.80₾2.07
-3.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99¥612
$3.40₾8.85
17.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.89¥751
$7.67₾19.94
-36.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86¥285
$1.68₾4.36
10.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09¥321
$2.38₾6.18
-12.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09¥474
$0.39₾1.02
692.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$162¥24.8K
$15.55₾40.44
940.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31¥509
$1.14₾2.96
190.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.56¥393
$0.74₾1.93
245.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.09¥3,239
$11.32₾29.42
86.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11¥170
$1.38₾3.60
-19.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.1K¥2.5M
$24.6K₾63.9K
-34.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.1K¥2.0M
$22.0K₾57.2K
-40.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137¥21.0K
$88.7₾231
54.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.78¥3,498
$13.18₾34.26
72.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.01¥5,068
$19.68₾51.2
67.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88¥6,892
$68.3₾177
-34.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.59¥5,004
$17.94₾46.65
81.66%
Cinema Ticket
$11.43¥1,755
$6.42₾16.70
78.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325¥49.9K
$372₾967
-12.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,361¥976.7K
$10.8K₾28.1K
-41.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.02¥4,917
$105₾272
-69.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49¥5,143
$38.83₾101
-13.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.80¥7,032
$115₾299
-60.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2¥14.9K
$122₾318
-20.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$419¥64.3K
$681₾1,770
-38.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281¥43.2K
$456₾1,185
-38.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$874¥134.2K
$1,312₾3,410
-33.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$609¥93.5K
$892₾2,321
-31.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,546¥390.9K
$2,391₾6,216
6.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,288¥197.8K
$1,425₾3,704
-9.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kawagoe
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638¥251.5K
$640₾1,663
156.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.6
12.62
-87.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kawagoe: September 7, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $419 in Kawagoe and $681 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kawagoe pays 156% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Kawagoe vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $236 per month, with Tbilisi 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
Kawagoe vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kawagoe and in Tbilisi?
Kawagoe and Tbilisi differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,221 vs $1,279 including rent). Kawagoe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kawagoe or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 156% higher in Kawagoe, 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 in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $419 in Kawagoe versus $681 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 Kawagoe – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. 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 $1,221 per month in Kawagoe versus $1,279 in Tbilisi – a 5% 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 $1,221 in Kawagoe versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kawagoe but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kawagoe 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 Kawagoe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.