😐A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $670 in Chengdu, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,074 in Chengdu, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,478 in Chengdu, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 77% more than Chengdu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Chengdu are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi12% lower, Chengdu50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$2.84¥19.42
292.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$24.02¥165
79.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$4.78¥32.72
71.97%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.77¥19.01
13.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.43¥2.95
72.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.30¥2.08
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.13¥7.75
88.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.04¥13.97
46.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.82¥12.45
3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.45¥9.92
-49.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.92¥6.32
101.09%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.94¥13.28
26.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$13.50¥92.5
-41.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$3.52¥24.11
77.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$11.22¥76.8
-12.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.92¥13.16
-36.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.23¥8.39
29.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.49¥10.24
20.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.08¥7.40
114.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.69¥4.75
2.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.71¥4.84
-5.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.56¥3.84
110.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.60¥4.14
18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.39¥23.21
-13.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$5.58¥38.20
29.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.00¥6.88
55.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.79¥12.26
29.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.43¥2.96
-11.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$27.53¥189
-46.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.28¥8.79
15.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.26¥1.77
165.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$4.26¥29.16
74.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.18¥8.07
-2.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$18.7K¥127.9K
-3.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$16.3K¥111.9K
21.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$43.81¥300
67.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$11.49¥78.7
1.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$11.73¥80.3
51.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$24.26¥166
149.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$11.27¥77.2
45.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$5.73¥39.23
13.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$340¥2,326
-22.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$12.2K¥83.4K
-57.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$37.27¥255
108.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$39.16¥268
13.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$65.7¥450
79.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$50.4¥345
126.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$308¥2,112
124.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$181¥1,242
155.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$622¥4,258
115.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$330¥2,263
135.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$3,887¥26.6K
-34.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$2,045¥14.0K
-30.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chengdu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$1,210¥8,287
-47.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.21
182.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chengdu: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $308 in Chengdu. 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 91% higher in Chengdu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $24.00 in Chengdu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $197 – making Chengdu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Chengdu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Chengdu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi, $670 in Chengdu – roughly 77% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Chengdu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,006 in Chengdu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Chengdu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $24.00 in Chengdu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Chengdu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,185 in Tbilisi and $670 in Chengdu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chengdu, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Chengdu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Chengdu?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $670 in Chengdu to $1,185 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Chengdu safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Chengdu?
If budget matters most, go with Chengdu. 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.