Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and KotaCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kota
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $376 in Kota.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $587 in Kota.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $798 in Kota.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 215% more expensive than Kota, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Kota72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$2.38₹226
368.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$8.59₹815
402.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$2.89₹275
184.43%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$0.71₹67.6
340.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.37₹34.81
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.19₹18.45
136.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.71₹163
24.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.13₹298
-4.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$0.62₹58.9
204.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.46₹43.88
58.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.81₹76.9
128.40%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$0.95₹90.4
157.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$5.04₹478
55.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$2.73₹259
128.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.71₹163
-29.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$0.52₹49.01
205.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$0.79₹74.7
126.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$0.45₹42.40
415.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.34₹31.88
108.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.45₹42.93
48.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.33₹31.73
257.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.37₹34.82
91.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.93₹373
-25.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$7.87₹747
-7.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.73₹164
-10.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.73₹354
-38.07%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.22₹400
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.56₹53.4
-32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$8.96₹850
65.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.36₹34.29
311.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.24₹22.80
187.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$1.48₹141
403.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.18₹112
-2.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$11.6K₹1.1M
55.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$16.5K₹1.6M
20.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$30.43₹2,889
141.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$2.92₹277
298.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$7.46₹708
138.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$10.46₹993
479.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$2.39₹227
587.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$3.55₹337
83.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$37.49₹3,560
600.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$716₹68.0K
617.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$21.53₹2,044
260.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$26.89₹2,553
65.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$50.7₹4,816
131.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$24.79₹2,353
360.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$162₹15.3K
328.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$90.2₹8,562
412.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$304₹28.9K
339.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$190₹18.1K
309.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$561₹53.3K
350.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$338₹32.1K
323.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$423₹40.2K
49.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
7.5
58.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Kota: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $162 in Kota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 49% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Kota for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $103 per month, with Kota cheaper across the board.
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 Kota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Kota?
Tbilisi and Kota differ by about 215% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $376 including rent). Kota is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Kota?
Tbilisi pays 49% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Kota?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $162 in Kota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kota – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $376 in Kota versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kota but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kota the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Kota?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Kota safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kota are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Kota?
Expats usually find Kota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.