😐A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,209 in Koh Samui, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,008 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,806 in Koh Samui, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 6% more than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi7% lower, Koh Samui12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$4.62฿153
147.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$32.89฿1,087
16.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$8.80฿291
6.82%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$2.92฿96.5
15.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$0.89฿29.54
16.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.49฿16.19
22.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.46฿81.1
10.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$3.85฿127
-21.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.90฿62.6
19.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$1.43฿47.23
-44.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$1.60฿52.9
1.25%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$2.17฿71.6
26.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$20.08฿663
-53.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$3.41฿113
99.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$11.11฿367
17.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$3.04฿101
-46.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.66฿54.7
10.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$2.27฿75.2
-16.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$2.21฿73.0
16.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$1.50฿49.46
-44.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.42฿46.92
-54.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$1.14฿37.50
19.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.55฿18.26
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$4.53฿150
-24.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$19.00฿628
-59.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.82฿60.0
-7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$2.85฿94.1
-16.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$2.42฿79.8
-83.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
$45.31฿1,497
-65.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$3.21฿106
-64.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.10฿36.22
-32.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$4.23฿140
167.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.52฿50.1
-9.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$28.8K฿952.3K
-14.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$28.9K฿953.3K
-23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$110฿3,627
-19.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$11.81฿390
11.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$18.43฿609
6.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$56.9฿1,879
19.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
$11.82฿390
51.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$8.38฿277
-23.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$629฿20.8K
-40.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$12.7K฿421.0K
-15.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$65.0฿2,147
60.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$29.07฿961
33.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$98.4฿3,250
16.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$91.2฿3,013
34.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$628฿20.7K
8.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$420฿13.9K
8.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$1,779฿58.8K
-26.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$1,028฿34.0K
-13.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$3,020฿99.8K
-20.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$2,162฿71.4K
-34.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$393฿13.0K
62.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
5.57
126.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Koh Samui: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $628 in Koh Samui. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 63% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $33.00 in Koh Samui. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Tbilisi vs $276 in Koh Samui – 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 Koh Samui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Koh Samui compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $1,209 in Koh Samui – roughly 6% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Koh Samui?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,814 in Koh Samui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Koh Samui?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koh Samui, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $33.00 in Koh Samui. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Koh Samui, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Koh Samui it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Koh Samui?
It depends on your priorities. Koh Samui has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,209 in Koh Samui to $1,279 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Koh Samui safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Koh Samui?
If budget matters most, go with Koh Samui. 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.