Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Koh Tao

For one person, living is cheaper in Koh Tao: $1,045 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Koh Tao
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,045
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Koh Tao

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Koh Tao actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $1,045 in Koh Tao.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Koh Tao $1,045

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $1,724 in Koh Tao.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Koh Tao $1,724

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $2,404 in Koh Tao.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Koh Tao $2,404

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 22% more expensive than in Koh Tao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Koh Tao 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$3.89 ฿130
195.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$27.00 ฿902
41.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$7.49 ฿250
30.84%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$2.39 ฿79.8
48.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$0.76 ฿25.49
39.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.42 ฿14.04
47.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.12 ฿71.0
30.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$3.23 ฿108
-7.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.57 ฿52.6
37.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.38 ฿46.03
-44.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.45 ฿48.38
20.00%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.08 ฿69.6
34.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$18.21 ฿609
-49.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$3.27 ฿109
99.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$10.34 ฿346
23.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$2.80 ฿93.5
-40.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.56 ฿52.1
18.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$2.19 ฿73.1
-9.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$2.05 ฿68.4
22.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.40 ฿46.78
-37.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.26 ฿42.08
-42.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$1.05 ฿35.10
35.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.49 ฿16.31
46.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$4.05 ฿135
-16.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$17.60 ฿588
-55.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.68 ฿56.0
-3.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$2.63 ฿88.0
-9.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$2.02 ฿67.5
-81.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$2.76 ฿92.2
-58.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.98 ฿32.79
-19.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$3.37 ฿113
243.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.27 ฿42.56
18.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$24.6K ฿821.9K
0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$23.8K ฿796.1K
-6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$96.6 ฿3,229
-8.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$11.21 ฿375
16.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$17.15 ฿573
13.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$55.6 ฿1,858
15.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$11.50 ฿384
66.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$7.82 ฿261
-10.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$566 ฿18.9K
-34.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$11.7K ฿389.6K
-8.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$63.2 ฿2,112
62.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$28.21 ฿943
43.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$96.4 ฿3,222
20.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$88.8 ฿2,968
37.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$550 ฿18.4K
23.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$351 ฿11.7K
29.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$1,583 ฿52.9K
-19.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$893 ฿29.8K
-0.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$2,685 ฿89.7K
-10.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$1,889 ฿63.1K
-24.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Koh Tao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
-
-
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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Koh Tao: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Koh Tao
$351 22.8% $103
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Koh Tao
$254 8.9% $21
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Koh Tao
$104 45.4% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Koh Tao
$124 27.5% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Koh Tao
$125 3.4% $4.1
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Koh Tao
$71 8.9% $6.9
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Koh Tao
$16 * 28.7% $6.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $550 in Koh Tao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $27.00 in Koh Tao. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $254, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇹🇭 Koh Tao
🕒 Local time
15:38 3:38 PM
18:38 6:38 PM
3 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
1,382
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Koh Tao 6,390 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Koh Tao

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, and leisure. 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 $1,906 in Tbilisi and $1,567 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: $677 in Tbilisi versus $550 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 $373 in Tbilisi versus $566 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 $27.00 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 $1,045 in Koh Tao versus $1,270 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.

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