😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,504 in Luang Prabang versus $1,191 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,306 in Luang Prabang versus $1,856 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,107 in Luang Prabang versus $2,522 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Luang Prabang is roughly 26% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Luang Prabang is 13% above, Tbilisi is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89LAK 42.4K
$10.91₾28.56
-82.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.92LAK 403.2K
$43.19₾113
-58.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.46LAK 122.7K
$8.53₾22.31
-35.99%
Cappuccino
$1.56LAK 35.0K
$2.99₾7.82
-47.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92LAK 20.6K
$0.81₾2.12
13.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59LAK 13.4K
$0.42₾1.09
40.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.34LAK 30.2K
$2.16₾5.65
-37.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18LAK 26.4K
$2.88₾7.53
-59.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LAK 39.8K
$1.94₾5.08
-8.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09LAK 24.5K
$0.68₾1.77
60.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16LAK 48.6K
$1.85₾4.83
16.76%
Eggs
$2.41LAK 54.3K
$2.53₾6.62
-4.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.83LAK 558.7K
$7.53₾19.70
229.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.62LAK 58.9K
$6.26₾16.39
-58.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.47LAK 100.5K
$9.59₾25.10
-53.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37LAK 30.8K
$1.16₾3.04
18.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16LAK 48.5K
$1.64₾4.29
31.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25LAK 50.7K
$1.88₾4.93
19.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.44LAK 100.0K
$2.23₾5.84
99.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45LAK 32.6K
$0.70₾1.83
107.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00LAK 22.6K
$0.64₾1.68
56.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11LAK 24.9K
$1.18₾3.10
-5.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76LAK 17.0K
$0.70₾1.83
8.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04LAK 45.9K
$2.97₾7.78
-31.31%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.43₾19.45
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21LAK 27.3K
$1.54₾4.03
-21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81LAK 18.3K
$2.28₾5.98
-64.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58LAK 13.0K
$0.36₾0.93
61.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.0LAK 1.4M
$14.73₾38.55
313.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95LAK 21.3K
$1.42₾3.71
-33.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16LAK 26.2K
$0.69₾1.81
68.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.77LAK 107.2K
$7.27₾19.02
-34.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10LAK 24.7K
$1.09₾2.86
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KLAK 652.9M
$18.3K₾48.0K
58.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KLAK 669.5M
$20.5K₾53.6K
45.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.2LAK 1.9M
$74.4₾195
15.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.60LAK 125.9K
$11.71₾30.64
-52.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.07LAK 159.1K
$17.60₾46.07
-59.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$84.7LAK 1.9M
$60.3₾158
40.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.85LAK 176.6K
$16.29₾42.64
-51.81%
Cinema Ticket
$2.52LAK 56.6K
$6.51₾17.03
-61.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$255LAK 5.7M
$269₾704
-5.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,410LAK 211.7M
$5,154₾13.5K
82.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.6LAK 1.7M
$77.1₾202
-4.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4LAK 1.4M
$43.48₾114
43.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6LAK 1.7M
$118₾310
-36.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.2LAK 1.2M
$113₾295
-53.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,136LAK 25.6M
$709₾1,856
60.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$867LAK 19.5M
$465₾1,216
86.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,936LAK 43.6M
$1,316₾3,443
47.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,717LAK 38.6M
$767₾2,007
123.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,579LAK 58.0M
$2,492₾6,523
3.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$167LAK 3.8M
$1,442₾3,774
-88.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luang Prabang
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$196LAK 4.4M
$663₾1,735
-70.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.12
11.89
-14.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Luang Prabang: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,136 in Luang Prabang and $709 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 239% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Luang Prabang vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $204, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 26% 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 239% 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: $1,136 in Luang Prabang versus $709 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 314% 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 $255 in Luang Prabang versus $269 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 $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,504 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 $1,191 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 26% 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