Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kobe Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kobe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,327 in Kobe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $2,001 in Kobe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $2,675 in Kobe.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 3% less than in Kobe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Kobe 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.55
$7.59 ¥1,186
54.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.8
$31.22 ¥4,877
21.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.41
$4.92 ¥768
97.97%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.90
$2.39 ¥373
42.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.76
$1.18 ¥184
-10.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$0.61 ¥95.2
6.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.05
$1.99 ¥311
35.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.08
$2.26 ¥354
37.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.73
$1.50 ¥234
46.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$1.25 ¥196
-35.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$4.21 ¥657
-61.05%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.18
$2.00 ¥313
37.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.50
$12.31 ¥1,923
-26.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.09
$6.71 ¥1,048
-2.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.91
$16.76 ¥2,618
-24.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.36
$7.88 ¥1,231
-78.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.73
$3.06 ¥478
-40.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.03
$4.84 ¥756
-60.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.76
$7.57 ¥1,183
-65.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$3.64 ¥569
-76.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$3.41 ¥532
-80.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.63
$1.16 ¥181
19.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.94 ¥147
-14.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.78
$3.45 ¥539
-2.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.66
$8.22 ¥1,284
-8.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.21
$1.99 ¥311
-19.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.86
$1.49 ¥233
51.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.47 ¥229
-74.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.41
$62.1 ¥9,705
-75.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.05
$3.20 ¥499
-63.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$3.10 ¥484
-74.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.55
$26.70 ¥4,171
-57.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$1.05 ¥164
26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.2K
$20.0K ¥3.1M
25.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.4K
$15.2K ¥2.4M
47.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾232
$117 ¥18.2K
-23.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.55
$22.98 ¥3,589
-42.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.8
$31.37 ¥4,901
-37.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾178
$46.74 ¥7,302
46.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.73
$11.48 ¥1,793
62.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.30
$11.27 ¥1,761
-41.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾948
$319 ¥49.8K
13.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$6,068 ¥947.9K
75.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾270
$48.89 ¥7,638
111.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$25.13 ¥3,925
54.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾304
$46.37 ¥7,244
151.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$65.3 ¥10.2K
88.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,780
$693 ¥108.3K
-1.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,165
$460 ¥71.8K
-2.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,349
$1,054 ¥164.6K
21.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,399
$732 ¥114.3K
25.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,486
$4,301 ¥672.0K
-42.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,711
$2,859 ¥446.6K
-50.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kobe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,684
$1,736 ¥271.3K
-62.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
1.66
666.87%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kobe: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $693 in Kobe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kobe pays 169% 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 $31.00 in Kobe. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $351, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kobe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kobe?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Kobe. 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 in Kobe?
On paper, salaries run 169% lower in Kobe. 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 compared to Kobe?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $693 in Kobe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Kobe?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 311% less than in Kobe. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Kobe?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $319 in Kobe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Kobe?
At $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,327 in Kobe, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Kobe. 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 Kobe?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,286 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 Kobe?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kobe 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 3% less than in Kobe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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