Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kutaisi and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kutaisi: $887 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kutaisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$887
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kutaisi and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kutaisi and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $887 per month in Kutaisi vs $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Kutaisi $887
  • Tbilisi $1,266

A couple spends around $1,320 per month in Kutaisi vs $2,007 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Kutaisi $1,320
  • Tbilisi $2,007

A family of three spends $1,754 per month in Kutaisi vs $2,749 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Kutaisi $1,754
  • Tbilisi $2,749

Kutaisi is about 30% cheaper than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kutaisi and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Kutaisi 34% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 ₾26.22
$11.34 ₾29.35
-10.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.82 ₾79.8
$39.05 ₾101
-21.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 ₾27.75
$9.63 ₾24.92
11.32%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ₾5.24
$3.46 ₾8.95
-41.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$1.09 ₾2.82
-26.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₾1.31
$0.63 ₾1.62
-19.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 ₾3.28
$2.77 ₾7.17
-54.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₾4.94
$3.10 ₾8.04
-38.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ₾4.54
$2.25 ₾5.81
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ₾1.24
$0.80 ₾2.07
-40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.14
$1.76 ₾4.55
-31.25%
Eggs
$2.37 ₾6.13
$2.75 ₾7.11
-13.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.17 ₾15.96
$9.39 ₾24.32
-34.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.74 ₾12.28
$6.66 ₾17.23
-28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.46 ₾27.08
$12.92 ₾33.45
-19.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 ₾3.27
$1.67 ₾4.31
-24.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.12
$1.80 ₾4.65
-11.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ₾4.05
$1.92 ₾4.97
-18.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.63
$2.41 ₾6.24
-25.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.84
$0.86 ₾2.23
-17.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$0.69 ₾1.80
-5.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 ₾3.31
$1.40 ₾3.62
-8.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.71
$0.71 ₾1.85
-7.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 ₾7.96
$3.51 ₾9.08
-12.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.96 ₾10.24
$7.61 ₾19.69
-47.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₾4.27
$1.63 ₾4.21
1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₾6.54
$2.31 ₾5.98
9.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.37 ₾0.96
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.77 ₾20.13
$15.67 ₾40.57
-50.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ₾2.06
$1.14 ₾2.95
-30.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.90
$0.79 ₾2.05
-7.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 ₾15.36
$11.86 ₾30.70
-50.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ₾3.46
$1.40 ₾3.62
-4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K ₾59.4K
$24.8K ₾64.2K
-7.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.0K
$21.9K ₾56.6K
2.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.4 ₾200
$89.1 ₾231
-13.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.45 ₾21.87
$13.21 ₾34.19
-36.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.81 ₾38.34
$19.76 ₾51.1
-25.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.59 ₾108
$64.9 ₾168
-35.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.23 ₾21.29
$19.02 ₾49.24
-56.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.80 ₾12.43
$6.57 ₾17.02
-26.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 ₾333
$377 ₾975
-65.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,675 ₾6,924
$10.8K ₾27.9K
-75.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ₾145
$102 ₾265
-45.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.69 ₾105
$39.70 ₾103
2.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ₾247
$118 ₾305
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ₾224
$123 ₾320
-30.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$353 ₾913
$666 ₾1,724
-47.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₾683
$449 ₾1,163
-41.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 ₾1,362
$1,284 ₾3,324
-59.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 ₾892
$890 ₾2,303
-61.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,047 ₾2,709
$2,425 ₾6,276
-56.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$694 ₾1,797
$1,380 ₾3,573
-49.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$473 ₾1,224
$680 ₾1,760
-30.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.67
12.62
24.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kutaisi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kutaisi
$264
Tbilisi
$449 70.1% $185
Groceries & Markets
Kutaisi
$179
Tbilisi
$234 30.6% $55
Eating Out
Kutaisi
$153
Tbilisi
$188 23% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Kutaisi
$125
Tbilisi
$172 37.5% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kutaisi
$101
Tbilisi
$122 21.3% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Kutaisi
$51
Tbilisi
$78 52.5% $27
Getting Around
Kutaisi
$14
Tbilisi
$22 62.7% $8.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Kutaisi versus $666 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 44% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Kutaisi versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $234 – making Kutaisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Kutaisi
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
10:09 10:09 AM
10:09 10:09 AM
Same time as Kutaisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
130,411
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kutaisi Tbilisi 180 km
From you
  • Kutaisi
  • Tbilisi

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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
Kutaisi vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kutaisi and in Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $887 in Kutaisi, $1,266 in Tbilisi – roughly 43% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Kutaisi compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,330 per month in Kutaisi and $1,899 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kutaisi and Tbilisi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kutaisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Kutaisi and $39.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kutaisi, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Tbilisi at $1,266. In Kutaisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kutaisi and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $887 in Kutaisi to $1,266 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kutaisi or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kutaisi and Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with Kutaisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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