😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $707 in Kaifeng.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,091 in Kaifeng.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,476 in Kaifeng.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 68% more expensive than Kaifeng, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Kaifeng47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$2.85¥19.52
291.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$13.97¥95.7
208.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$4.20¥28.76
95.71%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.10¥14.36
49.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.47¥3.20
57.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.20¥1.37
125.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.10¥7.56
93.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.06¥14.09
45.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.84¥12.62
2.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.62¥11.07
-54.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.90¥6.20
105.56%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.64¥11.26
49.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$12.86¥88.1
-38.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$3.18¥21.76
96.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$10.23¥70.0
-4.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.81¥12.39
-33.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.21¥8.29
31.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$0.65¥4.44
175.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.12¥7.69
107.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.69¥4.71
2.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.97¥6.64
-30.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.59¥4.06
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.55¥3.75
29.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.06¥20.98
-4.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$14.42¥98.7
-49.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$0.80¥5.46
93.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.57¥10.77
47.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.27¥1.84
40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$16.39¥112
-9.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.41¥9.65
4.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.33¥2.25
109.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$6.62¥45.31
12.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.14¥7.78
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$19.4K¥133.1K
-7.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$16.5K¥113.2K
20.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$46.78¥320
56.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$9.53¥65.3
22.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$11.64¥79.8
52.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$41.23¥282
46.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$14.00¥95.9
17.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$6.35¥43.53
2.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$335¥2,296
-21.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$17.3K¥118.3K
-70.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$43.58¥299
78.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$30.93¥212
43.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$72.8¥499
61.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$73.2¥502
55.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$273¥1,872
153.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$188¥1,288
145.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$595¥4,073
124.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$367¥2,513
112.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$3,144¥21.5K
-19.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$1,984¥13.6K
-27.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$635¥4,348
-0.33%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Kaifeng: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $273 in Kaifeng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaifeng pays 0% 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 $14.00 in Kaifeng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $203 per month, with Kaifeng cheaper across the board.
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 68% 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?
On paper, Kaifeng earns 0% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Kaifeng?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $273 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 $43.00 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $707 in Kaifeng – a 68% 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 $707 in Kaifeng versus $1,185 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 $707 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 68% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.