Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $232 per month in Lihir Island vs $1,218 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $427 per month in Lihir Island vs $1,853 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $622 per month in Lihir Island vs $2,489 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Lihir Island is about 81% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lihir Island and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Lihir Island 83% lower, Tbilisi 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 PGK 20.22

$10.85 ₾28.75

-56.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.29 PGK 126

$44.17 ₾117

-33.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PGK 25.13

$8.28 ₾21.94

-29.35%

Cappuccino

$2.36 PGK 10.14

$3.02 ₾8.00

-21.85%

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

$0.73 PGK 3.15

$0.76 ₾2.02

-3.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 PGK 3.04

$0.46 ₾1.22

54.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 PGK 15.66

$2.24 ₾5.93

62.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PGK 10.08

$3.00 ₾7.95

-21.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 PGK 7.13

$1.93 ₾5.11

-13.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 PGK 6.09

$0.72 ₾1.91

97.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.05

$1.84 ₾4.87

-23.37%

Eggs

$2.27 PGK 9.77

$2.45 ₾6.48

-7.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 PGK 18.83

$6.48 ₾17.16

-32.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.42 PGK 10.40

$9.70 ₾25.70

-75.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.04

$1.56 ₾4.14

-9.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 PGK 10.08

$0.65 ₾1.73

261.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 3.94

$0.68 ₾1.79

35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 1.96

$0.70 ₾1.86

-34.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.01 PGK 25.83

$2.95 ₾7.82

103.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 PGK 10.25

$1.52 ₾4.02

57.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.22

$2.25 ₾5.95

5.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

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

$73.9 ₾196

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

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

$264 ₾700

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

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 Lihir Island: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Lihir Island versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $114 vs $204 – making Lihir Island 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

Lihir Island vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $232 in Lihir Island, $1,218 in Tbilisi – roughly 424% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $349 per month in Lihir Island and $1,827 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Lihir Island and $44.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $232 in Lihir Island and $1,218 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lihir Island, where all-in costs run around $232, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Lihir Island it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $232 in Lihir Island to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Lihir Island. 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.