Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Haikou Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Haikou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $786 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,196 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,605 in Haikou.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 52% more expensive than in Haikou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Haikou 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.39
$2.55 ¥17.26
324.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$24.04 ¥163
82.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.80
$5.31 ¥35.95
56.50%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.95 ¥19.94
0.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.45 ¥3.06
71.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.30 ¥2.06
53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$1.40 ¥9.49
52.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$3.63 ¥24.55
-20.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.77 ¥12.00
7.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.42 ¥9.61
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$0.88 ¥5.93
117.05%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$1.85 ¥12.55
34.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$12.90 ¥87.3
-40.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.21
$5.47 ¥37.00
12.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.12
$15.10 ¥102
-36.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$0.86 ¥5.79
36.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$0.89 ¥6.05
85.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$0.40 ¥2.72
362.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$0.95 ¥6.40
145.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.70 ¥4.76
1.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$0.68 ¥4.62
-1.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.27 ¥1.81
340.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.52 ¥3.53
26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$2.90 ¥19.65
0.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.18
$11.69 ¥79.2
-34.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$0.79 ¥5.35
101.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.57 ¥10.65
47.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.27 ¥1.83
40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.72
$16.76 ¥113
-11.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$2.73 ¥18.47
-45.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.33 ¥2.20
106.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.04
$6.73 ¥45.58
7.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.16 ¥7.87
-6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$20.3K ¥137.7K
-8.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$16.7K ¥112.9K
22.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾192
$34.12 ¥231
113.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.41
$13.71 ¥92.8
-12.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.22
$8.57 ¥58.0
110.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$32.90 ¥223
85.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.34
$5.79 ¥39.21
185.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$5.41 ¥36.64
23.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$340 ¥2,304
-21.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$28.4K ¥192.2K
-81.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$41.66 ¥282
83.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$41.90 ¥284
3.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$42.49 ¥288
183.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$35.08 ¥237
215.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,803
$352 ¥2,383
95.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$282 ¥1,906
67.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,550
$540 ¥3,655
150.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$469 ¥3,173
68.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,473
$3,108 ¥21.0K
-20.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,818
$2,120 ¥14.3K
-31.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Haikou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$719 ¥4,868
-8.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.85
145.15%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Haikou: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $352 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haikou pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $24.00 in Haikou. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 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 Haikou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Haikou?
Tbilisi and Haikou differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $786 including rent). Haikou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Haikou. 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 in Haikou?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $352 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Haikou?
All in, you'll spend $1,197 per month in Tbilisi versus $786 in Haikou – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and in Haikou?
A monthly transit pass in Haikou runs roughly 14% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $786 in Haikou versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haikou but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Haikou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Haikou?
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 Haikou safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Haikou 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 Haikou?
Expats usually find Haikou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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