Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Changchun Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Changchun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $748 in Changchun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,109 in Changchun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,469 in Changchun.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 60% more expensive than in Changchun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Changchun 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$2.77 ¥18.71

290.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$20.26 ¥137

116.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$4.92 ¥33.27

68.90%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$2.57 ¥17.36

15.56%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$0.48 ¥3.27

60.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.29 ¥1.97

58.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$0.83 ¥5.58

157.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$2.04 ¥13.77

40.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.89 ¥12.77

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$1.25 ¥8.42

-43.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$1.28 ¥8.67

49.22%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$1.10 ¥7.45

125.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$12.67 ¥85.6

-38.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$3.42 ¥23.08

80.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$8.41 ¥56.8

13.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$1.47 ¥9.90

-20.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$1.03 ¥6.95

60.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$0.86 ¥5.81

115.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$1.30 ¥8.81

79.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$0.73 ¥4.93

-2.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$0.66 ¥4.46

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$0.44 ¥2.94

170.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$0.56 ¥3.76

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$3.21 ¥21.68

-9.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$11.69 ¥79.0

-34.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$0.67 ¥4.50

137.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$0.94 ¥6.36

145.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.27 ¥1.81

40.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

$16.96 ¥115

-12.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$1.08 ¥7.30

38.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$0.26 ¥1.76

161.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

$3.43 ¥23.15

111.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.12 ¥7.55

-2.68%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

$18.2K ¥122.8K

2.41%

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$18.7K ¥126.0K

9.72%

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

$73.0 ₾191

$42.61 ¥288

71.32%

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$14.76 ¥99.7

-18.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$14.14 ¥95.6

27.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$42.40 ¥287

43.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

$3.75 ¥25.35

340.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$5.00 ¥33.81

34.00%

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

$269 ₾705

$284 ¥1,919

-5.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

$8,474 ¥57.3K

-39.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$27.58 ¥186

177.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$30.90 ¥209

40.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$74.1 ¥501

62.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$77.5 ¥524

42.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$276 ¥1,864

149.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$233 ¥1,577

101.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$596 ¥4,024

127.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$358 ¥2,420

120.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

$1,745 ¥11.8K

41.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

$993 ¥6,709

46.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$942 ¥6,366

-30.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

5.27

125.62%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Changchun: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $276 in Changchun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Changchun pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $20.00 in Changchun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $185 per month, with Changchun 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

Tbilisi vs Changchun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changchun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Changchun. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $276 in Changchun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Changchun runs roughly 15% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $284 in Changchun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $748 in Changchun versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changchun but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Changchun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Changchun is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Changchun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changchun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.