Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gyeongju

For one person, living costs are similar in Tbilisi and in Gyeongju: $1,266 and $1,228 a month, rent and utilities included.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Gyeongju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,228
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Gyeongju

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Gyeongju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,228 in Gyeongju, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,266
  • Gyeongju $1,228

A couple spends around $2,007 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,988 in Gyeongju, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,007
  • Gyeongju $1,988

A family of three spends $2,749 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,748 in Gyeongju, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,749
  • Gyeongju $2,748

Tbilisi costs about 3% more than Gyeongju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Tbilisi and Gyeongju are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Gyeongju 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 ₾29.35
$7.61 ₩10.1K
49.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.05 ₾101
$48.01 ₩63.8K
-18.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 ₾24.92
$6.51 ₩8,653
47.93%
Cappuccino
$3.46 ₾8.95
$3.02 ₩4,012
14.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.82
$1.10 ₩1,457
-0.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.62
$0.35 ₩469
80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 ₾7.17
$2.59 ₩3,442
6.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.04
$4.34 ₩5,764
-28.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ₾5.81
$2.31 ₩3,073
-2.60%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$2.47 ₩3,280
-67.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₾4.55
$3.13 ₩4,164
-43.77%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.11
$2.60 ₩3,451
5.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 ₾24.32
$11.06 ₩14.7K
-15.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 ₾17.23
$10.33 ₩13.7K
-35.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 ₾33.45
$18.49 ₩24.6K
-30.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$4.50 ₩5,985
-62.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.65
$2.57 ₩3,411
-29.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₾4.97
$3.82 ₩5,075
-49.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₾6.24
$3.67 ₩4,879
-34.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₾2.23
$2.56 ₩3,398
-66.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$2.18 ₩2,897
-68.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$2.19 ₩2,917
-36.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.33 ₩1,766
-46.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$3.44 ₩4,571
2.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾19.69
$14.77 ₩19.6K
-48.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$1.14 ₩1,515
42.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾5.98
$2.22 ₩2,949
4.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.06 ₩1,409
-65.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.67 ₾40.57
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$2.93 ₩3,895
-61.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.79 ₩1,046
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.86 ₾30.70
$16.57 ₩22.0K
-28.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$1.02 ₩1,354
37.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.2K
$29.6K ₩39.3M
-16.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ₾56.6K
$34.0K ₩45.2M
-35.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾231
$80.6 ₩107.1K
10.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.21 ₾34.19
$36.83 ₩49.0K
-64.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.76 ₾51.1
$27.20 ₩36.2K
-27.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 ₾168
$52.1 ₩69.3K
24.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 ₾49.24
$11.96 ₩15.9K
59.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 ₾17.02
$11.04 ₩14.7K
-40.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾975
$639 ₩849.8K
-41.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾27.9K
$22.2K ₩29.5M
-51.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$45.34 ₩60.3K
125.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 ₾103
$22.41 ₩29.8K
77.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$91.7 ₩121.9K
28.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$128 ₩170.8K
-3.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 ₾1,724
$478 ₩635.9K
39.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₾1,163
$366 ₩486.7K
22.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,324
$1,163 ₩1.5M
10.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,303
$732 ₩972.7K
21.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,425 ₾6,276
$7,249 ₩9.6M
-66.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,380 ₾3,573
$5,416 ₩7.2M
-74.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Gyeongju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$680 ₾1,760
$1,841 ₩2.4M
-63.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
4.22
199.05%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Last update for Gyeongju: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$449
Gyeongju
$366 18.5% $83
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Gyeongju
$359 53.6% $125
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$188
Gyeongju
$144 23.4% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Gyeongju
$130 24.9% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Gyeongju
$145 18.4% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Gyeongju
$74 4.9% $3.9
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Gyeongju
$11 * 50.1% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Tbilisi versus $478 in Gyeongju. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 171% higher in Gyeongju, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $48.00 in Gyeongju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $359 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇰🇷 Gyeongju
🕒 Local time
03:34 3:34 AM
08:34 8:34 AM
5 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
258,156
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Gyeongju 7,050 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Gyeongju

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Gyeongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gyeongju cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Tbilisi and $1,843 in Gyeongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Gyeongju?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Tbilisi and $1,228 in Gyeongju. That's a gap of about 3%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $377 per month in Tbilisi and $639 in Gyeongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Gyeongju?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,228, than in Tbilisi at $1,266. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Gyeongju more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Gyeongju?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gyeongju. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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