Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Dalian Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Dalian

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $798 in Dalian.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,254 in Dalian.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,711 in Dalian.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 49% more expensive than Dalian, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Dalian 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$3.40 ¥23.29
227.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$24.55 ¥168
75.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$4.97 ¥34.03
65.39%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$3.13 ¥21.42
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$0.51 ¥3.48
45.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.24 ¥1.64
87.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$0.82 ¥5.64
159.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$1.54 ¥10.55
94.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.60 ¥10.94
18.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.45 ¥9.93
-49.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$0.91 ¥6.24
103.30%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$2.01 ¥13.78
21.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$19.42 ¥133
-59.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$2.69 ¥18.44
132.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$10.20 ¥69.9
-4.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.28 ¥8.78
-5.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.16 ¥7.91
37.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.33 ¥9.09
34.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$0.71 ¥4.86
226.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$0.67 ¥4.61
5.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.72 ¥4.91
-6.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.75 ¥5.17
57.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.60 ¥4.13
18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$3.42 ¥23.46
-14.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$17.45 ¥120
-58.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$0.83 ¥5.70
86.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.51 ¥10.36
52.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$0.29 ¥2.01
31.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$27.80 ¥190
-46.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$1.36 ¥9.33
8.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.40 ¥2.72
72.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$4.04 ¥27.69
84.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.15 ¥7.87
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$17.8K ¥122.2K
0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$16.0K ¥109.7K
23.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$43.53 ¥298
68.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$9.10 ¥62.3
27.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$11.45 ¥78.4
55.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$36.04 ¥247
68.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$23.92 ¥164
-31.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$6.44 ¥44.10
1.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$455 ¥3,118
-42.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$9,374 ¥64.2K
-45.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$56.4 ¥386
37.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$51.6 ¥354
-14.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$107 ¥734
9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$95.1 ¥651
20.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$352 ¥2,412
96.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$207 ¥1,418
123.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$636 ¥4,357
110.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$365 ¥2,498
113.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$2,664 ¥18.3K
-5.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$1,650 ¥11.3K
-13.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Dalian
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$1,098 ¥7,523
-42.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.18
184.45%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Dalian: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $352 in Dalian. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dalian pays 74% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Dalian. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $222, 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 Dalian: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Dalian?
Tbilisi and Dalian differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $798 including rent). Dalian is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Dalian earns 74% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Dalian?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $352 in Dalian. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Dalian?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $455 in Dalian. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $798 in Dalian versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dalian but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Dalian the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Dalian?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Dalian safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Dalian are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Dalian?
Expats usually find Dalian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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