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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $523 in Kataragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $856 in Kataragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,189 in Kataragama, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 133% more than Kataragama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Kataragama are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Kataragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$3.93 LKR 1,310

176.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$24.89 LKR 8,303

77.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

$8.17 LKR 2,725

1.35%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$2.64 LKR 882

14.39%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.69 LKR 229

10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.41 LKR 136

12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$2.31 LKR 770

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$3.45 LKR 1,149

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.71 LKR 572

12.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$0.56 LKR 187

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$0.85 LKR 284

116.47%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$2.23 LKR 742

9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$13.81 LKR 4,608

-46.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$4.75 LKR 1,585

36.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$8.10 LKR 2,703

19.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$7.46 LKR 2,489

-83.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.08 LKR 359

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$5.84 LKR 1,948

-69.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$1.26 LKR 419

76.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$1.11 LKR 372

-41.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.42 LKR 474

-52.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$1.18 LKR 395

0.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.57 LKR 189

22.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$10.10 LKR 3,369

-70.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$12.46 LKR 4,156

-41.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$2.03 LKR 677

-25.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$2.97 LKR 992

-24.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$0.42 LKR 139

257.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$0.35 LKR 117

108.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$0.62 LKR 206

1101.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$1.20 LKR 399

-5.00%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-30.33%

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-42.09%

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

$73.9 ₾196

$60.6 LKR 20.2K

21.97%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

$4.21 LKR 1,405

178.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$15.13 LKR 5,046

20.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

$3.41 LKR 1,137

93.84%

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

$264 ₾700

$37.56 LKR 12.5K

603.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$449 LKR 149.6K

1047.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$27.99 LKR 9,335

167.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$19.33 LKR 6,447

127.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$70.5 LKR 23.5K

66.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$38.43 LKR 12.8K

196.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

16.45

-27.72%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kataragama: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $25.00 in Kataragama. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $257 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 133% 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 $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $785 in Kataragama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $523 in Kataragama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $37.56 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 $523, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. 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 $523 versus $1,218 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.