😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,057 in Koh Tao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,760 in Koh Tao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $2,463 in Koh Tao.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 22% more expensive than in Koh Tao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Koh Tao23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.58
$3.78฿124
210.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.9
$27.72฿911
36.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.43
$7.49฿246
30.04%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.91
$2.44฿80.1
39.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.77
$0.75฿24.69
41.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.38฿12.51
71.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.06
$2.11฿69.3
27.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.09
$3.17฿104
-2.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.74
$1.80฿59.2
22.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.38฿45.52
-41.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$1.51฿49.68
8.61%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.19
$2.09฿68.7
31.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.52
$18.48฿608
-51.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.10
$3.29฿108
99.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.94
$10.69฿351
18.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$2.83฿93.2
-40.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$1.59฿52.2
13.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.04
$2.16฿70.9
-10.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$2.01฿66.0
28.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$1.44฿47.38
-39.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.32฿43.30
-50.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$1.02฿33.62
36.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.51฿16.83
56.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$4.10฿135
-18.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.68
$17.52฿576
-56.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$1.70฿55.9
-5.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$2.66฿87.3
-15.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$2.05฿67.3
-81.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.45
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.70฿88.7
-56.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.97฿32.01
-17.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.58
$3.60฿118
214.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.35฿44.27
-1.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$24.2K฿795.8K
3.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$24.2K฿794.8K
-7.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾233
$102฿3,338
-12.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.58
$10.98฿361
20.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$17.74฿583
9.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾179
$55.3฿1,817
23.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.77
$11.74฿386
59.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.32
$7.87฿259
-15.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾949
$570฿18.7K
-36.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$11.5K฿377.2K
-7.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$63.5฿2,087
63.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$28.56฿939
35.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$97.5฿3,205
19.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$89.0฿2,928
37.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,782
$559฿18.4K
22.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,166
$364฿12.0K
22.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,353
$1,598฿52.6K
-19.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,401
$910฿29.9K
1.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,492
$2,666฿87.7K
-6.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,715
$1,918฿63.1K
-25.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,686
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
5.57
128.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Koh Tao: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $559 in Koh Tao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $28.00 in Koh Tao. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $259, 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 Koh Tao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koh Tao cheaper than Tbilisi?
Koh Tao is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,929 in Tbilisi and $1,586 in Koh Tao to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Koh Tao?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $559 in Koh Tao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $570 in Koh Tao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Koh Tao?
Dining out is cheaper in Koh Tao – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Koh Tao?
At $1,057 in Koh Tao versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Koh Tao but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Koh Tao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Koh Tao more family-friendly?
For families, Koh Tao is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Koh Tao?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Koh Tao 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Koh Tao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.