Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kataragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kataragama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $514 in Kataragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $840 in Kataragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,167 in Kataragama, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 142% more than Kataragama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Kataragama are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Kataragama 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$4.33 LKR 1,431

161.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$25.82 LKR 8,537

49.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$7.48 LKR 2,475

27.27%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.54 LKR 841

34.25%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.73 LKR 241

42.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.27 LKR 89.8

137.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.19 LKR 724

19.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.03 LKR 1,001

6.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.57 LKR 519

38.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.57 LKR 188

29.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.79 LKR 261

116.46%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.60 LKR 530

76.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.94

$13.41 LKR 4,435

-31.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$5.12 LKR 1,694

32.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.16

$7.24 LKR 2,395

76.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$6.97 LKR 2,306

-76.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$0.90 LKR 297

96.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$4.20 LKR 1,388

-55.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.24 LKR 410

96.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.02 LKR 337

-14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.76 LKR 253

-14.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.63

$0.90 LKR 297

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.49 LKR 161

51.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$10.45 LKR 3,455

-67.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$13.91 LKR 4,598

-45.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.90 LKR 628

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.19

$2.80 LKR 925

-15.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.42 LKR 138

180.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.38 LKR 127

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$0.92 LKR 306

1132.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.32 LKR 438

0.76%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$30.8K LKR 10.2M

-19.85%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$42.4K LKR 14.0M

-48.04%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$56.3 LKR 18.6K

57.86%

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

$13.33 ₾34.62

$4.22 LKR 1,394

215.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$21.22 LKR 7,016

-5.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾46.99

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$4.41 LKR 1,457

52.38%

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

$374 ₾970

$38.81 LKR 12.8K

862.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$1,230 LKR 406.8K

769.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$20.01 LKR 6,616

405.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$16.47 LKR 5,447

138.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$79.0 LKR 26.1K

48.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$43.14 LKR 14.3K

183.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,772

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,336

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,363

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,694

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

12.69

-0.55%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kataragama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $26.00 in Kataragama. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $239 in Kataragama – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kataragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 142% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $771 in Kataragama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $514 in Kataragama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $38.81 in Kataragama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kataragama, where all-in costs run around $514, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Kataragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kataragama costs $514 versus $1,247 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kataragama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.