Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kandy Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kandy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $516 in Kandy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $736 in Kandy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $956 in Kandy.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 148% more expensive than in Kandy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$2.75 LKR 904

315.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$12.92 LKR 4,246

195.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$5.98 LKR 1,964

57.19%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$1.99 LKR 654

69.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.70

$0.51 LKR 167

103.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.26 LKR 85.5

130.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$1.86 LKR 612

45.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$2.85 LKR 937

6.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$1.16 LKR 383

95.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$0.49 LKR 161

61.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$0.78 LKR 258

107.69%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$1.60 LKR 527

71.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$5.24 LKR 1,721

77.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$4.30 LKR 1,412

57.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$6.89 LKR 2,265

88.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$3.08 LKR 1,012

-46.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$0.89 LKR 292

105.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$1.72 LKR 564

10.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$1.27 LKR 418

102.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$0.99 LKR 326

-15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.81 LKR 266

-19.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$0.48 LKR 158

183.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.45 LKR 147

77.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$7.75 LKR 2,548

-56.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$11.53 LKR 3,788

-33.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$1.99 LKR 654

-15.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$2.04 LKR 669

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.16 LKR 53.3

143.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$4.68 LKR 1,538

232.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$0.42 LKR 138

171.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.38 LKR 126

94.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$0.47 LKR 156

2308.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.12 LKR 368

23.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$14.1K LKR 4.6M

73.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$37.5K LKR 12.3M

-41.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.7 ₾231

$55.1 LKR 18.1K

61.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.18 ₾34.26

$4.11 LKR 1,351

220.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$12.67 LKR 4,164

55.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$11.02 LKR 3,620

519.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

$6.68 LKR 2,193

168.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$2.89 LKR 950

122.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$372 ₾967

$21.41 LKR 7,036

1637.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$305 LKR 100.3K

3443.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$20.30 LKR 6,671

414.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$10.30 LKR 3,386

276.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$68.8 LKR 22.6K

66.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$26.80 LKR 8,805

356.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$174 LKR 57.0K

292.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$116 LKR 38.1K

292.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$177 LKR 58.2K

640.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$97.0 LKR 31.9K

820.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$414 LKR 135.9K

477.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$406 LKR 133.5K

250.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$263 LKR 86.5K

142.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

5.17%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kandy: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $174 in Kandy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 143% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $13.00 in Kandy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $167 per month, with Kandy 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 Kandy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kandy is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 148% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 143% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $174 in Kandy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $516 in Kandy – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kandy runs roughly 232% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $516 in Kandy versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kandy but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kandy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kandy is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kandy are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kandy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.