Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Tbilisi vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tbilisi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$2.29 ฿76.5
402.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$19.64 ฿656
94.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$5.61 ฿188
74.69%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$1.66 ฿55.6
113.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$0.70 ฿23.40
51.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.31 ฿10.24
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.41 ฿80.4
14.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$3.71 ฿124
-19.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.95 ฿65.3
10.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.41 ฿47.03
-46.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.31 ฿43.62
32.82%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.18 ฿72.9
27.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$16.65 ฿556
-44.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$2.76 ฿92.2
136.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$9.11 ฿304
40.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$2.39 ฿80.0
-30.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.03 ฿34.26
79.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.63 ฿54.4
21.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$1.50 ฿50.0
67.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.29 ฿43.13
-32.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.11 ฿37.03
-34.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.72 ฿24.08
97.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.53 ฿17.59
35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$4.31 ฿144
-21.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$17.95 ฿600
-56.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.58 ฿52.9
2.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$2.84 ฿95.0
-16.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.86 ฿28.86
-56.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$53.3 ฿1,780
-70.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$1.21 ฿40.29
-5.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.57 ฿18.99
38.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$2.35 ฿78.6
392.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.44 ฿47.96
4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
18.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$62.3 ฿2,083
41.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$12.11 ฿405
8.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$19.94 ฿666
-2.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$37.07 ฿1,239
73.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$3.78 ฿126
407.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$6.50 ฿217
7.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$793 ฿26.5K
-52.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-27.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$53.7 ฿1,796
91.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$24.62 ฿823
64.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$90.9 ฿3,036
28.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$71.1 ฿2,378
71.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$455 ฿15.2K
48.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$298 ฿9,954
52.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$908 ฿30.4K
40.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$554 ฿18.5K
60.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$1,931 ฿64.5K
24.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-1.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$591 ฿19.7K
18.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
5.57
126.57%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Chiang Mai
$298 34.4% $156
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Chiang Mai
$235 1.1% $2.7
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Chiang Mai
$79 58.8% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Chiang Mai
$108 37% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Chiang Mai
$94 21.9% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Chiang Mai
$50 36% $28
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Chiang Mai
$61 175% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Tbilisi versus $455 in Chiang Mai. 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 19% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Tbilisi vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
18:21 6:21 PM
21:21 9:21 PM
3 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Chiang Mai 5,680 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Chiang Mai?
Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Tbilisi and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $373 per month in Tbilisi and $793 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Tbilisi at $1,270. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $1,270 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. 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.

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