😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $978 in Cotonou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,407 in Cotonou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,835 in Cotonou.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 21% more expensive than Cotonou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Cotonou27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$3.47F CFA 1,948
221.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$26.93F CFA 15.1K
60.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$5.24F CFA 2,940
56.87%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$5.52F CFA 3,097
-43.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.86F CFA 483
-13.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.78F CFA 435
-42.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.45F CFA 814
46.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.49F CFA 1,956
-14.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$2.65F CFA 1,486
-28.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.38F CFA 774
-47.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.85F CFA 1,037
-
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.18F CFA 1,221
12.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$9.23F CFA 5,179
-14.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$4.93F CFA 2,763
26.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$5.13F CFA 2,877
90.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$3.89F CFA 2,183
-68.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.37F CFA 771
16.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.27F CFA 710
40.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.77F CFA 991
31.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.41F CFA 789
-49.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.45F CFA 811
-53.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.48F CFA 267
145.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.28F CFA 718
-44.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$2.33F CFA 1,309
25.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$6.52F CFA 3,659
11.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.24F CFA 698
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.28F CFA 1,281
1.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$1.80F CFA 1,012
-78.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.44F CFA 810
2.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.26F CFA 705
-45.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$1.79F CFA 1,005
316.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.06F CFA 595
8.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$24.3KF CFA 13.6M
-18.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$269F CFA 150.9K
-72.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$44.80F CFA 25.1K
-74.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$55.5F CFA 31.1K
-67.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$58.9F CFA 33.0K
2.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$5.44F CFA 3,051
202.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$7.53F CFA 4,221
-13.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$189F CFA 106.1K
38.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$6,522F CFA 3.7M
-21.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$17.58F CFA 9,863
341.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$8.64F CFA 4,846
413.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$9.04F CFA 5,070
1201.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$49.26F CFA 27.6K
131.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$202F CFA 113.3K
243.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$149F CFA 83.6K
210.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$577F CFA 323.7K
131.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$285F CFA 159.7K
173.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5
137.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Cotonou: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $202 in Cotonou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $27.00 in Cotonou. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $214, 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 Cotonou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cotonou cheaper than Tbilisi?
Cotonou is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,467 in Cotonou 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.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Cotonou?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $202 in Cotonou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Cotonou?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Cotonou?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $978 in Cotonou – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Cotonou?
At $978 in Cotonou versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cotonou but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Cotonou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Cotonou more family-friendly?
For families, Cotonou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Cotonou?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Cotonou 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cotonou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.