🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in Taiyuan versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Taiyuan versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,406 in Taiyuan versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.
🙂Living in Taiyuan costs roughly 48% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Taiyuan53% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15¥14.53
$10.80₾28.70
-80.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.14¥143
$43.18₾115
-51.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30¥29.11
$8.29₾22.03
-48.13%
Cappuccino
$2.38¥16.14
$3.00₾7.96
-20.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.66
$0.82₾2.17
-34.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32¥2.20
$0.46₾1.21
-30.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27¥8.62
$2.23₾5.93
-43.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15¥14.55
$2.92₾7.75
-26.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37¥9.26
$1.93₾5.11
-29.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85¥19.26
$0.68₾1.81
319.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70¥4.77
$1.88₾4.99
-62.77%
Eggs
$0.93¥6.33
$2.54₾6.73
-63.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.09¥95.4
$7.42₾19.70
89.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84¥19.25
$6.19₾16.43
-54.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94¥74.1
$9.36₾24.86
16.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.14¥14.51
$1.22₾3.25
75.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32¥8.90
$1.66₾4.40
-20.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83¥5.61
$1.80₾4.78
-53.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09¥7.36
$2.24₾5.96
-51.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49¥3.33
$0.71₾1.89
-30.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40¥2.71
$0.67₾1.79
-40.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44¥2.97
$1.18₾3.13
-62.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41¥2.76
$0.66₾1.76
-37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11¥14.27
$2.98₾7.91
-29.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29¥49.34
$7.61₾20.21
-4.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72¥4.85
$1.54₾4.08
-53.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36¥9.21
$2.25₾5.98
-39.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.36₾0.95
-19.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.36¥83.7
$14.44₾38.36
-14.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08¥7.34
$1.49₾3.96
-27.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21¥1.42
$0.68₾1.82
-69.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.44¥23.31
$7.23₾19.19
-52.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10¥7.43
$1.14₾3.04
-3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K¥155.9K
$18.5K₾49.0K
24.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K¥138.2K
$20.0K₾53.0K
2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.0¥467
$73.7₾196
-6.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.73¥65.9
$11.64₾30.91
-16.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.08¥81.7
$17.84₾47.39
-32.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.84¥283
$60.1₾160
-30.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.45¥57.2
$16.80₾44.63
-49.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59¥37.82
$6.60₾17.54
-15.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$417¥2,822
$266₾708
56.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,244¥28.7K
$5,191₾13.8K
-18.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.85¥161
$77.7₾206
-69.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.81¥330
$44.75₾119
9.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.5¥463
$117₾310
-41.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8¥445
$113₾300
-41.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$208¥1,410
$693₾1,839
-69.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106¥715
$462₾1,226
-77.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$502¥3,399
$1,320₾3,505
-61.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247¥1,672
$774₾2,056
-68.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,663¥18.0K
$2,430₾6,455
9.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,226¥8,296
$1,446₾3,840
-15.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiyuan
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$925¥6,258
$673₾1,787
37.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
11.89
-67.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taiyuan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $208 in Taiyuan and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Taiyuan pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Taiyuan vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $203 per month, with Taiyuan 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
Taiyuan vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Taiyuan or Tbilisi?
Taiyuan wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taiyuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Taiyuan or Tbilisi?
Taiyuan pays 37% more on average, 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 Taiyuan vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $208 in Taiyuan versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Taiyuan vs Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Taiyuan runs roughly 17% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Taiyuan and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $417 in Taiyuan versus $266 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Taiyuan or Tbilisi?
At $629 in Taiyuan versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taiyuan but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Taiyuan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Taiyuan or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Taiyuan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $629 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Taiyuan hard to pass up.
How safe is Taiyuan compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.