🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,926 in Christchurch.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $4,022 in Christchurch.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $6,119 in Christchurch.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 37% less than in Christchurch, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Christchurch is 44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$50.2BBD 100
-78.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$135BBD 270
-68.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$12.57BBD 25.14
-34.05%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$5.09BBD 10.19
-41.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.93BBD 3.87
-57.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.57BBD 3.15
-70.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.48BBD 4.95
-10.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.89BBD 7.77
-24.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$3.51BBD 7.02
-45.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$2.68BBD 5.35
-74.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$7.47BBD 14.94
-74.83%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$4.84BBD 9.68
-47.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$7.84BBD 15.68
-5.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$17.85BBD 35.70
-65.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$10.86BBD 21.72
-13.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$3.10BBD 6.19
-60.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.77BBD 5.55
-40.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$8.08BBD 16.15
-77.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$8.13BBD 16.25
-72.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$5.93BBD 11.87
-88.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$4.92BBD 9.83
-86.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$2.49BBD 4.98
-52.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$2.08BBD 4.15
-68.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$8.25BBD 16.50
-63.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$22.47BBD 44.93
-66.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.78BBD 3.56
-13.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$3.24BBD 6.48
-30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.77BBD 3.53
-79.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$12.28BBD 24.56
-87.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$2.30BBD 4.61
-70.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$2.00BBD 4.01
-43.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$49.46BBD 98.9
-76.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$55.1BBD 110
-67.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$454BBD 907
-41.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$6,039BBD 12.1K
-14.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$56.5BBD 113
37.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$99.4BBD 199
17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$61.8BBD 124
82.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$836BBD 1,672
-17.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$708BBD 1,417
-34.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$2,902BBD 5,803
-54.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$2,795BBD 5,589
-72.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Christchurch: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $836 in Christchurch. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $135 in Christchurch for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $484 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Christchurch: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Christchurch?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Christchurch. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Christchurch?
You'd need roughly $1,813 in Tbilisi and $2,889 in Christchurch to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Christchurch?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $836 in Christchurch. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Christchurch?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $454 in Christchurch. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Christchurch?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $135 in Christchurch. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Christchurch?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,926 in Christchurch, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Christchurch. 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 Christchurch?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,209 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 Christchurch?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Christchurch 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 59% less than in Christchurch. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.