Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kaifeng

For one person, living is cheaper in Kaifeng: $500 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Kaifeng, China
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Kaifeng
🇨🇳 China
$500
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Kaifeng

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 Kaifeng actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,269 in Tbilisi versus $500 in Kaifeng.

  • Tbilisi $1,269
  • Kaifeng $500

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,016 in Tbilisi versus $792 in Kaifeng.

  • Tbilisi $2,016
  • Kaifeng $792

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,763 in Tbilisi versus $1,083 in Kaifeng.

  • Tbilisi $2,763
  • Kaifeng $1,083

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 154% more expensive than in Kaifeng, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 7% lower, Kaifeng 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63 ₾30.07
$1.85 ¥12.30
528.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.83 ₾97.8
$13.44 ¥89.3
181.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 ₾24.98
$4.12 ¥27.40
134.47%
Cappuccino
$3.57 ₾9.24
$2.19 ¥14.54
63.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.78
$0.39 ¥2.56
176.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.45
$0.17 ¥1.14
229.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.62 ₾6.78
$0.89 ¥5.91
194.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.85
$1.53 ¥10.16
98.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.60
$1.57 ¥10.40
38.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.06
$1.54 ¥10.21
-48.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$0.81 ¥5.39
114.81%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.31
$0.96 ¥6.39
194.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.31 ₾24.07
$6.67 ¥44.30
39.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 ₾16.85
$2.30 ¥15.25
183.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.95 ₾33.50
$10.21 ¥67.8
26.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 ₾4.33
$0.87 ¥5.78
93.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$0.97 ¥6.42
90.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.10
$0.59 ¥3.94
233.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 ₾6.25
$0.64 ¥4.25
278.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 ₾2.11
$0.58 ¥3.84
41.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.67 ¥4.47
10.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 ₾3.47
$0.21 ¥1.39
538.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.00
$0.55 ¥3.67
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 ₾9.24
$2.94 ¥19.56
21.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.83
$14.88 ¥98.9
-48.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.39
$1.01 ¥6.70
68.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₾6.21
$2.01 ¥13.36
19.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.05
$0.13 ¥0.87
207.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.23 ₾39.38
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$1.17 ¥7.75
-2.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.02
$0.15 ¥0.99
420.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.83 ₾30.58
$3.69 ¥24.50
220.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₾3.75
$1.27 ¥8.44
14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.6K
$19.2K ¥127.3K
28.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ₾57.8K
$14.9K ¥99.0K
49.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₾230
$45.22 ¥300
96.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 ₾33.93
$4.76 ¥31.62
175.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.67 ₾50.9
$5.28 ¥35.07
272.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 ₾166
$29.67 ¥197
115.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 ₾49.24
$10.55 ¥70.1
80.47%
Cinema Ticket
$7.12 ₾18.42
$3.82 ¥25.36
86.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$375 ₾971
$388 ¥2,581
-3.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ₾27.1K
$31.2K ¥207.3K
-66.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾268
$43.81 ¥291
136.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.26 ₾102
$33.96 ¥226
15.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾303
$71.9 ¥478
63.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾315
$45.32 ¥301
168.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$695 ₾1,798
$121 ¥801
476.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,167
$88.7 ¥589
408.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 ₾3,504
$225 ¥1,494
502.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$906 ₾2,343
$180 ¥1,197
402.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,295 ₾5,934
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,345 ₾3,478
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kaifeng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 ₾1,718
$580 ¥3,852
14.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
3.1
307.10%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Last update for Kaifeng: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
Kaifeng
$89 80.3% $362
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Kaifeng
$165 29.3% $69
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Kaifeng
$63 66.9% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Kaifeng
$88 49% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Kaifeng
$55 54.6% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Kaifeng
$37 52.4% $41
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Kaifeng
$2.4 * 88.9% $19

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $695 in Tbilisi and $121 in Kaifeng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 15% 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: $38 in Tbilisi vs $13 in Kaifeng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $165 per month, with Kaifeng cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇨🇳 Kaifeng
🕒 Local time
14:01 2:01 PM
18:01 6:01 PM
4 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
4,676,159
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.347 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 6.64 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.42 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Kaifeng 5,960 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Kaifeng

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 Kaifeng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kaifeng?
Kaifeng wins on cost – living expenses run 61% 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 in Kaifeng?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Tbilisi, 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 compared to Kaifeng?
Rent for a central apartment: $695 in Tbilisi versus $121 in Kaifeng. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Kaifeng?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Kaifeng?
All in, you’ll spend $1,269 per month in Tbilisi versus $500 in Kaifeng – Kaifeng is about 61% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $800/month in Tbilisi or in Kaifeng?
At $500 in Kaifeng versus $1,269 in Tbilisi, a $800 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 offers a better quality of life: Tbilisi or Kaifeng?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Kaifeng?
It comes down to priorities – Kaifeng wins on affordability, Tbilisi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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