🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,784 in Kajaani.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $2,639 in Kajaani.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $3,493 in Kajaani.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 32% less than in Kajaani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Kajaani is 33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$14.81€12.74
-27.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$46.70€40.17
-7.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$9.98€8.59
-16.93%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$4.50€3.87
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$2.50€2.15
-67.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.68€1.45
-72.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$8.33€7.16
-73.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$9.41€8.10
-68.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.37€1.18
40.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$2.31€1.99
-70.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$2.36€2.03
-20.34%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.73€2.35
-6.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.71€7.49
-14.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$10.48€9.01
-40.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$21.18€18.22
-55.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.08€1.79
-41.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.96€1.69
-15.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.40€2.06
-25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$4.76€4.09
-52.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.41€1.22
-49.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.88€1.62
-64.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.72€1.48
-31.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.44€1.24
-54.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$14.09€12.12
-78.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$15.55€13.38
-51.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$3.15€2.71
-51.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$3.59€3.09
-37.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$3.41€2.93
-89.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$65.8€56.6
-78.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$8.12€6.99
-81.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$1.22€1.05
-44.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$62.3€53.6
-88.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$2.04€1.75
-44.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$34.2K€29.4K
-46.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$31.1K€26.8K
-35.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$150€129
-50.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$30.41€26.16
-61.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$19.54€16.81
-8.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$43.25€37.20
39.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$24.22€20.83
-30.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$16.33€14.04
-59.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$330€284
-19.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$7,868€6,768
-34.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$107€91.9
-27.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$26.25€22.58
70.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$57.0€48.99
105.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$105€90.7
7.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$763€656
-9.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$647€557
-28.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$1,315€1,131
0.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$1,024€881
-24.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$3,493€3,005
-30.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kajaani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$2,124€1,827
-68.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.93
202.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kajaani: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $763 in Kajaani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kajaani pays 216% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $47.00 in Kajaani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $341 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Kajaani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kajaani?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Kajaani. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Kajaani?
On paper, Kajaani earns 216% 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 Kajaani?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $763 in Kajaani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Kajaani?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $330 in Kajaani. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Kajaani?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Kajaani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Kajaani?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,784 in Kajaani, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Kajaani. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kajaani?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,209 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kajaani?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kajaani 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Kajaani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.