Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,244 per month in Lae vs $1,178 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,300 per month in Lae vs $1,848 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,356 per month in Lae vs $2,518 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Lae costs about 6% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lae and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Lae 7% lower, Tbilisi 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.32 PGK 45.05

$11.09 ₾29.33

-6.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 PGK 237

$43.24 ₾114

25.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 ₾22.62

Cappuccino

$2.92 PGK 12.77

$2.97 ₾7.86

-1.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 PGK 3.55

$0.76 ₾2.01

6.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PGK 2.56

$0.46 ₾1.22

28.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 PGK 16.02

$2.22 ₾5.87

65.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 PGK 25.88

$2.92 ₾7.72

102.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 PGK 9.55

$1.97 ₾5.21

11.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 PGK 6.94

$0.73 ₾1.94

117.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PGK 5.95

$1.82 ₾4.81

-25.27%

Eggs

$4.23 PGK 18.46

$2.49 ₾6.60

69.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 PGK 44.49

$7.66 ₾20.26

33.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 PGK 43.30

$6.27 ₾16.58

58.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.23 PGK 49.06

$9.50 ₾25.12

18.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 PGK 21.05

$1.23 ₾3.24

291.87%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 PGK 13.37

$1.64 ₾4.32

86.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.46 PGK 28.22

$1.87 ₾4.95

245.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 PGK 7.41

$2.27 ₾6.01

-25.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.63 PGK 15.86

$0.67 ₾1.77

441.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 PGK 10.68

$0.67 ₾1.78

265.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PGK 3.30

$1.22 ₾3.23

-37.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 PGK 4.30

$0.70 ₾1.85

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.25 PGK 31.67

$2.92 ₾7.72

148.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.78 PGK 55.8

$7.72 ₾20.40

65.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 PGK 12.29

$1.55 ₾4.09

81.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 PGK 20.88

$2.22 ₾5.86

115.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PGK 1.63

$0.39 ₾1.02

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 ₾38.78

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₾3.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 ₾19.50

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PGK 4.89

$1.14 ₾3.03

-1.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.2K ₾48.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K ₾54.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.6 ₾195

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾30.78

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.63 ₾46.62

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 ₾162

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 ₾44.55

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 ₾17.69

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$264 ₾698

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,169 ₾13.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 ₾199

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.26 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾311

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾295

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,953 PGK 34.7K

$706 ₾1,866

1026.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 PGK 3,212

$461 ₾1,220

59.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,423 PGK 6,216

$1,318 ₾3,486

7.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$781 ₾2,064

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 ₾6,512

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₾3,725

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 PGK 690

$672 ₾1,778

-76.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Lae: June 14, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $7,953 in Lae versus $706 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 326% higher in Tbilisi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Lae versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $331 vs $206 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Lae vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lae costs about 6% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,866 per month in Lae and $1,767 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,244 in Lae and $1,178 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Lae, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,178, than in Lae at $1,244. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lae it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,178 versus $1,244 in Lae. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lae makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.