😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $969 in Cotonou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $1,393 in Cotonou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $1,816 in Cotonou.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 22% 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
$11.09₾29.35
$3.57F CFA 2,017
210.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$26.18F CFA 14.8K
65.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.63
$5.41F CFA 3,053
58.04%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$5.62F CFA 3,171
-47.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$0.92F CFA 522
-17.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.72F CFA 404
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.88
$1.43F CFA 809
55.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.73
$3.50F CFA 1,976
-16.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$2.66F CFA 1,504
-25.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$1.42F CFA 803
-48.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$1.92F CFA 1,086
-5.21%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$2.24F CFA 1,266
11.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.27
$9.36F CFA 5,284
-18.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.59
$4.85F CFA 2,737
29.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.14
$4.96F CFA 2,797
91.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$4.02F CFA 2,269
-69.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.33
$1.44F CFA 815
13.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$1.26F CFA 709
48.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.02
$1.82F CFA 1,028
24.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$1.34F CFA 756
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.48F CFA 837
-54.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$0.48F CFA 270
154.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$1.23F CFA 693
-43.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.73
$2.32F CFA 1,307
25.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.42
$4.53F CFA 2,556
70.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$1.24F CFA 701
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$2.21F CFA 1,249
0.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$1.81F CFA 1,021
-78.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.81
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$1.38F CFA 778
4.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$1.31F CFA 737
-47.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.52
$1.72F CFA 970
328.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.11F CFA 626
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
$24.4KF CFA 13.8M
-16.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$269F CFA 152.0K
-72.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.80
$44.74F CFA 25.3K
-73.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.65
$56.0F CFA 31.6K
-68.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$60.0F CFA 33.9K
2.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.59
$5.40F CFA 3,046
212.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.71
$7.72F CFA 4,356
-13.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾699
$190F CFA 107.3K
38.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
$6,481F CFA 3.7M
-20.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
$17.36F CFA 9,797
332.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
$9.01F CFA 5,087
380.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
$8.61F CFA 4,862
1265.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
$47.92F CFA 27.0K
132.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,868
$200F CFA 113.0K
252.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,221
$148F CFA 83.8K
210.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,488
$584F CFA 329.4K
125.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,066
$283F CFA 159.7K
175.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,517
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,727
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Cotonou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,779
-
-
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Cotonou: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $200 in Cotonou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $26.00 in Cotonou. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $211, 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,767 in Tbilisi and $1,454 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: $706 in Tbilisi versus $200 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 2% 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 $1,178 per month in Tbilisi versus $969 in Cotonou – a 22% 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 $969 in Cotonou versus $1,178 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 22% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.