😐A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $504 in Katunayaka, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $831 in Katunayaka, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,158 in Katunayaka, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 147% more than Katunayaka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Katunayaka are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Katunayaka63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.44
$4.53LKR 1,497
150.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$25.97LKR 8,588
49.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.72
$7.81LKR 2,583
21.90%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.47LKR 817
38.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.74LKR 244
40.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.25LKR 82.7
156.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.28LKR 754
14.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$3.12LKR 1,033
3.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.56LKR 517
39.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$0.52LKR 173
42.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$0.81LKR 267
111.11%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$1.68LKR 554
68.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.94
$13.22LKR 4,372
-30.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$5.02LKR 1,659
34.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.16
$7.19LKR 2,378
77.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$6.64LKR 2,194
-75.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$0.90LKR 297
96.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$4.31LKR 1,427
-56.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$1.27LKR 422
92.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$1.02LKR 336
-14.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.81LKR 267
-19.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.63
$0.89LKR 293
57.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.45LKR 150
64.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$10.48LKR 3,465
-67.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$13.99LKR 4,625
-45.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.91LKR 631
-10.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.19
$2.83LKR 935
-15.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
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
$0.39LKR 127
202.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.36LKR 118
111.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.46
$0.88LKR 292
1188.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.34LKR 443
-0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$30.5KLKR 10.1M
-18.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$43.1KLKR 14.3M
-48.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$56.1LKR 18.5K
58.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.62
$4.22LKR 1,397
215.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$20.66LKR 6,832
-2.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾46.99
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.45
$4.48LKR 1,482
50.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾970
$38.01LKR 12.6K
882.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$1,202LKR 397.4K
790.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$19.74LKR 6,527
412.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$16.46LKR 5,443
138.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$79.6LKR 26.3K
47.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$42.72LKR 14.1K
186.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Katunayaka
Difference
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 Katunayaka: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $26.00 in Katunayaka. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $236 in Katunayaka – 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 Katunayaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Katunayaka cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 147%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $756 in Katunayaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Katunayaka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $504 in Katunayaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $38.01 in Katunayaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Katunayaka?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Katunayaka, where all-in costs run around $504, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Katunayaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Katunayaka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Katunayaka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Katunayaka?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Katunayaka. 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.