😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,366 in Luang Prabang versus $1,247 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,093 in Luang Prabang versus $2,025 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Luang Prabang versus $2,803 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Luang Prabang is roughly 10% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Luang Prabang is 0% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74LAK 38.8K
$11.33₾29.45
-84.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.13LAK 381.9K
$38.71₾101
-55.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.39LAK 120.2K
$9.52₾24.73
-43.38%
Cappuccino
$1.51LAK 33.6K
$3.41₾8.85
-55.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84LAK 18.8K
$1.04₾2.71
-19.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58LAK 13.0K
$0.64₾1.66
-9.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29LAK 28.8K
$2.61₾6.79
-50.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09LAK 24.4K
$3.24₾8.43
-66.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64LAK 36.6K
$2.17₾5.65
-24.42%
White Bread(500g)
-
$0.74₾1.92
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.71₾4.45
-
Eggs
-
$2.83₾7.36
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.85LAK 553.9K
$9.22₾23.95
169.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$6.76₾17.55
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.77₾33.17
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.30LAK 28.9K
$1.64₾4.26
-20.73%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.77₾4.60
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.87₾4.85
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.44₾6.34
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$0.87₾2.25
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$0.65₾1.70
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05LAK 23.5K
$1.40₾3.64
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73LAK 16.4K
$0.74₾1.93
-1.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.41₾8.86
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.60₾19.75
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16LAK 25.8K
$1.70₾4.41
-31.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64LAK 14.2K
$2.38₾6.20
-73.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56LAK 12.4K
$0.36₾0.94
55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.4LAK 1.3M
$15.24₾39.60
276.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87LAK 19.5K
$1.18₾3.07
-26.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14LAK 25.4K
$0.76₾1.97
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.55LAK 101.5K
$11.34₾29.47
-59.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20LAK 26.8K
$1.33₾3.46
-9.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KLAK 613.5M
$24.7K₾64.2K
11.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KLAK 632.5M
$22.0K₾57.2K
28.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0LAK 1.8M
$88.9₾231
-7.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.50LAK 122.6K
$13.33₾34.63
-58.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.91LAK 154.0K
$20.12₾52.3
-65.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$81.9LAK 1.8M
$68.7₾178
19.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.63LAK 170.0K
$18.09₾47.01
-57.82%
Cinema Ticket
$2.45LAK 54.7K
$6.72₾17.46
-63.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$251LAK 5.6M
$374₾971
-32.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,045LAK 201.6M
$10.7K₾27.8K
-15.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.3LAK 1.6M
$101₾263
-29.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2LAK 1.3M
$39.33₾102
53.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.8LAK 1.6M
$118₾305
-38.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.4LAK 1.1M
$122₾318
-58.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,145LAK 25.5M
$682₾1,773
67.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$852LAK 19.0M
$456₾1,186
86.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,864LAK 41.5M
$1,303₾3,385
43.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,671LAK 37.2M
$899₾2,337
85.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,549LAK 56.8M
$2,449₾6,365
4.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$171LAK 3.8M
$1,452₾3,774
-88.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$202LAK 4.5M
$652₾1,695
-69.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.12
12.62
-19.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Luang Prabang: September 13, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,145 in Luang Prabang and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 224% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Luang Prabang vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $118 vs $232 per month, with Luang Prabang 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
Luang Prabang vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Luang Prabang or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Luang Prabang. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Luang Prabang or in Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 224% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Luang Prabang compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,145 in Luang Prabang versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Luang Prabang compared to Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 277% less than in Luang Prabang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Luang Prabang and in Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $251 in Luang Prabang versus $374 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Luang Prabang or in Tbilisi?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,366 in Luang Prabang, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Luang Prabang. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Luang Prabang or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,247 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Luang Prabang compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Luang Prabang 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Luang Prabang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Luang Prabang vs other spots: cost of living compared