🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $2,146 in Christchurch.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $4,130 in Christchurch.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $6,115 in Christchurch.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 40% less than in Christchurch, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, Christchurch is 56% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$33.61BBD 67.2
-65.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$177BBD 354
-78.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$12.46BBD 24.92
-24.56%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$5.90BBD 11.80
-42.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$1.66BBD 3.31
-37.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.99BBD 1.99
-39.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.55BBD 5.10
6.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$4.26BBD 8.53
-28.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$3.44BBD 6.87
-34.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$2.58BBD 5.16
-69.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$7.46BBD 14.91
-78.28%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$4.99BBD 9.99
-45.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$8.63BBD 17.25
7.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$18.05BBD 36.11
-62.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$10.94BBD 21.88
18.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$3.00BBD 6.00
-45.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$2.67BBD 5.35
-31.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$7.83BBD 15.66
-75.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$8.46BBD 16.91
-69.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$6.01BBD 12.03
-86.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$4.93BBD 9.87
-86.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$2.04BBD 4.09
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$2.07BBD 4.13
-61.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$8.16BBD 16.32
-58.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$22.42BBD 44.85
-65.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.71BBD 3.42
-1.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$3.19BBD 6.39
-25.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$1.89BBD 3.78
-79.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$12.67BBD 25.35
-91.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$2.54BBD 5.08
-70.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$2.08BBD 4.16
-33.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$50.9BBD 102
-74.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$60.3BBD 121
-67.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$5,890BBD 11.8K
83.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$60.9BBD 122
71.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$100.0BBD 200
14.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$1,102BBD 2,203
-38.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$983BBD 1,967
-53.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$2,282BBD 4,563
-42.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$2,729BBD 5,457
-67.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Christchurch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$2,979BBD 5,958
-78.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
9
40.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Christchurch: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $1,102 in Christchurch. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Christchurch pays 366% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $177 in Christchurch for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 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 68% 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.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Christchurch?
On paper, salaries run 366% lower in Christchurch. 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 compared to Christchurch?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $1,102 in Christchurch. 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 Christchurch?
All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $2,146 in Christchurch – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Christchurch?
Supermarket bills run roughly 105% higher in Christchurch. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Christchurch?
At $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $2,146 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 $1,279 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 68% less than in Christchurch. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.