Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $245 per month in Pyongyang vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $385 per month in Pyongyang vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $526 per month in Pyongyang vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Pyongyang is about 80% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pyongyang and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Pyongyang 82% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.41 $23.41

$43.18 ₾115

-45.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

Cappuccino

$1.17 $1.17

$3.00 ₾7.97

-61.00%

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

$2.25 $2.25

$0.82 ₾2.17

174.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.46 ₾1.21

147.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.65 $13.65

$2.23 ₾5.93

512.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.92 ₾7.75

17.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.93 ₾5.12

-50.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.68 ₾1.81

255.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.88 ₾5.00

-51.06%

Eggs

$2.08 $2.08

$2.54 ₾6.74

-18.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

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

$73.7 ₾196

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

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

$266 ₾708

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 $92.6

$693 ₾1,840

-86.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.0 $92.0

$462 ₾1,227

-80.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 $139

$774 ₾2,057

-82.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$253 $253

$673 ₾1,788

-62.37%

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 Pyongyang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $92.6 in Pyongyang versus $693 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 166% 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 $23.00 in Pyongyang versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $46.00 vs $203 – making Pyongyang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated June 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Pyongyang vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $245 in Pyongyang, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 394% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $367 per month in Pyongyang and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Pyongyang and $43.00 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 $245 in Pyongyang and $1,209 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 Pyongyang, where all-in costs run around $245, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Pyongyang 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 $245 in Pyongyang to $1,209 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 Pyongyang. 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.