Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Chongqing Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Chongqing

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $732 in Chongqing, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,164 in Chongqing, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,596 in Chongqing, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 76% more than Chongqing, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Chongqing are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Chongqing 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.55
$2.70 ¥18.07
334.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.8
$22.67 ¥152
67.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.41
$4.79 ¥32.12
103.34%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.90
$2.01 ¥13.49
69.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.76
$0.46 ¥3.10
130.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$0.31 ¥2.11
109.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.05
$1.22 ¥8.14
121.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.08
$1.75 ¥11.73
77.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.73
$1.92 ¥12.85
14.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$1.58 ¥10.60
-48.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$0.64 ¥4.26
156.25%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.18
$2.13 ¥14.26
29.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.50
$18.11 ¥121
-50.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.09
$3.31 ¥22.16
97.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.91
$10.09 ¥67.6
25.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.36
$1.54 ¥10.31
8.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.73
$1.31 ¥8.79
38.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.03
$1.18 ¥7.93
63.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.76
$1.20 ¥8.05
115.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.64 ¥4.30
35.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$0.93 ¥6.21
-30.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.63
$0.86 ¥5.79
61.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.60 ¥4.05
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.78
$2.89 ¥19.34
16.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.66
$8.73 ¥58.5
-13.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.21
$0.76 ¥5.07
111.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.86
$1.62 ¥10.88
38.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.36 ¥2.41
2.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.41
$21.96 ¥147
-31.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.05
$1.50 ¥10.08
-22.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$0.29 ¥1.93
175.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.55
$3.00 ¥20.07
277.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$1.27 ¥8.51
4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.2K
$19.1K ¥128.0K
30.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.4K
$16.9K ¥113.0K
32.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾232
$43.83 ¥294
103.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.55
$6.95 ¥46.54
90.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.8
$6.87 ¥46.01
183.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾178
$48.77 ¥327
40.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.73
$10.54 ¥70.7
77.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.30
$5.83 ¥39.04
13.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾948
$283 ¥1,900
28.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$25.2K ¥169.1K
-57.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾270
$39.61 ¥265
161.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$29.50 ¥198
31.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾304
$64.5 ¥432
80.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$64.4 ¥431
90.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,780
$420 ¥2,814
62.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,165
$202 ¥1,353
121.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,349
$861 ¥5,768
49.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,399
$415 ¥2,778
121.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,486
$2,682 ¥18.0K
-7.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,711
$1,703 ¥11.4K
-16.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chongqing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,684
$1,119 ¥7,500
-42.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
3.34
281.14%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chongqing: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $420 in Chongqing. 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 73% higher in Chongqing, 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $23.00 in Chongqing. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $212 – making Chongqing 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 Chongqing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chongqing cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $1,097 in Chongqing. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chongqing, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Tbilisi and $283 in Chongqing. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Chongqing?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Chongqing?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chongqing, where all-in costs run around $732, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Chongqing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Chongqing more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chongqing – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Chongqing?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chongqing. 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.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities