😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $696 in Kaifeng.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,104 in Kaifeng.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,512 in Kaifeng.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 75% more expensive than Kaifeng, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Kaifeng48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$2.71¥18.34
300.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$13.87¥93.8
218.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$4.35¥29.40
90.34%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.09¥14.16
44.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.44¥2.97
72.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.22¥1.49
109.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$1.09¥7.38
105.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.05¥13.88
46.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.84¥12.43
4.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.59¥10.72
-54.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$0.84¥5.65
119.05%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.55¥10.51
58.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$13.00¥87.9
-42.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$3.23¥21.85
100.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$10.32¥69.8
-6.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$1.80¥12.19
-33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.26¥8.54
23.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$0.60¥4.07
198.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.09¥7.35
104.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.72¥4.87
-9.72%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$0.97¥6.55
-29.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.61¥4.10
95.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.54¥3.65
29.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$3.18¥21.52
-7.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$14.89¥101
-50.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$0.75¥5.05
102.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$1.66¥11.25
35.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.27¥1.81
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$16.86¥114
-13.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.37¥9.26
9.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.35¥2.39
108.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$6.56¥44.35
13.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.12¥7.57
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$19.7K¥133.2K
-5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$16.7K¥113.0K
21.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$45.40¥307
62.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$9.67¥65.4
21.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$11.33¥76.6
60.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$42.07¥284
46.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$14.13¥95.6
17.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$6.33¥42.79
4.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$334¥2,259
-20.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$16.9K¥114.5K
-69.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$42.69¥289
75.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$30.60¥207
43.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$70.3¥475
67.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$74.9¥507
51.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$278¥1,877
149.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$186¥1,260
143.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$589¥3,981
124.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$358¥2,422
120.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$574¥3,879
12.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.87
207.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Kaifeng: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $278 in Kaifeng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $14.00 in Kaifeng. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $204, 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 Kaifeng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kaifeng?
Kaifeng wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaifeng the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Kaifeng?
Tbilisi pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Kaifeng?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $278 in Kaifeng. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Kaifeng?
Dining out is cheaper in Kaifeng – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Kaifeng?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $696 in Kaifeng – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Kaifeng?
At $696 in Kaifeng versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kaifeng but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kaifeng the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kaifeng?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kaifeng delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kaifeng hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kaifeng?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kaifeng 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kaifeng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.