🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,271 in Cheongju.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,916 in Cheongju.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,562 in Cheongju.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 7% less than in Cheongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Cheongju5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$7.10₩10.5K
57.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$36.92₩54.8K
16.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$4.75₩7,048
73.05%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$4.20₩6,234
-25.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.82₩2,693
-59.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.33₩1,974
-66.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$3.65₩5,421
-41.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$5.85₩8,678
-48.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$2.03₩3,009
-6.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$3.49₩5,170
-79.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.80₩2,664
2.78%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.14₩3,170
14.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$10.37₩15.4K
-24.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$8.15₩12.1K
-23.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$14.73₩21.9K
-33.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.90₩4,305
-58.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.85₩4,234
-44.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$7.33₩10.9K
-75.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$5.10₩7,571
-54.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$5.18₩7,686
-86.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$2.99₩4,437
-77.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$2.10₩3,118
-43.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.45₩675
57.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.40₩5,045
-14.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$13.40₩19.9K
-45.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.76₩2,607
-11.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.23₩3,307
3.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$1.20₩1,783
-68.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$74.2₩110.1K
-80.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.72₩4,028
-45.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.78₩1,159
-11.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$16.73₩24.8K
-55.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.20₩1,783
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$27.8K₩41.3M
-35.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$24.8K₩36.7M
-19.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$187₩276.7K
-60.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$24.21₩35.9K
-51.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$14.77₩21.9K
20.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$60.7₩90.0K
-0.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$33.69₩50.0K
-51.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$7.54₩11.2K
-13.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$487₩722.8K
-46.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$14.2K₩21.1M
-63.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$36.46₩54.1K
113.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$47.11₩69.9K
-5.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$89.9₩133.3K
30.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$108₩160.4K
5.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$300₩445.6K
130.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$236₩350.4K
95.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$418₩620.2K
219.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$301₩446.3K
158.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$9,730₩14.4M
-74.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$5,844₩8.7M
-75.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Cheongju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$2,369₩3.5M
-73.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.22
181.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Cheongju: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $300 in Cheongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cheongju pays 275% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $37.00 in Cheongju. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $349, with Tbilisi 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
Tbilisi vs Cheongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Cheongju?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Cheongju. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Cheongju?
On paper, Cheongju earns 275% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Cheongju?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $300 in Cheongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Cheongju?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,271 in Cheongju – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Cheongju?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 401% less than in Cheongju. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Cheongju?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,271 in Cheongju, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Cheongju. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Cheongju?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,185 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Cheongju?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Cheongju 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Cheongju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.