Cost of Living Comparison Between Rarotonga and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Rarotonga and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,139 in Rarotonga versus $1,279 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,617 in Rarotonga versus $2,011 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,096 in Rarotonga versus $2,743 in Tbilisi.

Living in Rarotonga costs roughly 11% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rarotonga 17% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.77 NZ$25.39
$11.43 ₾29.72
29.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 NZ$90.7
$38.16 ₾99.2
38.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 NZ$9.91
$9.40 ₾24.45
-38.72%
Cappuccino
$3.44 NZ$5.91
$3.38 ₾8.78
1.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 NZ$3.95
$1.04 ₾2.70
121.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 NZ$3.93
$0.60 ₾1.56
280.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.28 NZ$9.07
$2.71 ₾7.05
94.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 NZ$9.13
$3.04 ₾7.90
74.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.85 NZ$4.90
$2.27 ₾5.90
25.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 NZ$5.20
$0.79 ₾2.04
283.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.62 ₾4.21
-
Eggs
$6.25 NZ$10.74
$2.74 ₾7.13
128.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 NZ$13.31
$9.30 ₾24.19
-16.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$6.79 ₾17.65
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.01 ₾33.84
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.64 ₾4.27
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.83 ₾4.77
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.90 ₾4.94
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.57 ₾6.68
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$0.84 ₾2.19
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.65 ₾1.70
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.36 ₾3.54
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.80 ₾2.07
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.92 NZ$20.49
$3.40 ₾8.85
250.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.73 NZ$20.17
$7.67 ₾19.94
52.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46 NZ$5.95
$1.68 ₾4.36
105.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.40 NZ$9.29
$2.38 ₾6.18
126.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 NZ$5.02
$0.39 ₾1.02
648.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$15.55 ₾40.44
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$20.77 NZ$35.72
$1.14 ₾2.96
1721.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.74 ₾1.93
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.89 NZ$61.7
$11.32 ₾29.42
217.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 NZ$3.09
$1.38 ₾3.60
30.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.7K NZ$20.2K
$24.6K ₾63.9K
-52.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.0K ₾57.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 NZ$176
$88.7 ₾231
15.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.34 NZ$84.8
$13.18 ₾34.26
274.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108 NZ$186
$19.68 ₾51.2
450.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.3 ₾177
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.94 ₾46.65
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.42 ₾16.70
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$372 ₾967
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,417 NZ$2,437
$10.8K ₾28.1K
-86.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$105 ₾272
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.83 ₾101
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$115 ₾299
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$122 ₾318
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 NZ$815
$681 ₾1,770
-30.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 NZ$796
$456 ₾1,185
1.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$710 NZ$1,221
$1,312 ₾3,410
-45.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$656 NZ$1,129
$892 ₾2,321
-26.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,391 ₾6,216
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,425 ₾3,704
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rarotonga
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,121 NZ$7,085
$640 ₾1,663
544.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
12.62
-

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

Last update for Rarotonga: September 5, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Rarotonga and $681 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rarotonga pays 544% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Rarotonga vs $38.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $159 vs $236, with Rarotonga 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
Rarotonga vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rarotonga or Tbilisi?
Rarotonga wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rarotonga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rarotonga or in Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 544% higher in Rarotonga, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rarotonga compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Rarotonga versus $681 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Rarotonga compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,139 per month in Rarotonga versus $1,279 in Tbilisi – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Rarotonga or in Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rarotonga or in Tbilisi?
At $1,139 in Rarotonga versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rarotonga but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Rarotonga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rarotonga or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rarotonga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,139 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rarotonga hard to pass up.
How safe is Rarotonga compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Rarotonga 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 Rarotonga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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