Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and KotkaCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kotka
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,896 in Kotka, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,750 in Kotka, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,604 in Kotka, rent included.
🙂Tbilisi is about 36% cheaper than Kotka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Tbilisi sits 10% below the global median, while Kotka is 41% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$12.69€10.93
-14.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$54.2€46.65
-20.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$10.00€8.61
-17.10%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$4.10€3.53
-26.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$2.05€1.77
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.61€1.39
-71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$5.64€4.85
-60.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.50€3.02
-16.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.27€1.10
51.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$2.27€1.96
-70.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$2.33€2.01
-19.31%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$2.82€2.43
-9.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.48€7.30
-12.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$13.79€11.87
-55.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$20.77€17.88
-54.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.99€1.72
-38.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.95€1.68
-14.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.40€2.07
-25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$4.80€4.13
-53.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.45€1.25
-51.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.82€1.57
-63.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.75€1.51
-32.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.39€1.20
-52.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$10.37€8.93
-71.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$16.67€14.35
-54.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$3.18€2.74
-51.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$3.56€3.06
-36.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$5.95€5.12
-93.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$58.6€50.5
-75.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$7.91€6.81
-81.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$1.28€1.10
-46.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$53.0€45.64
-86.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$2.01€1.73
-43.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$31.8K€27.3K
-41.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$32.6K€28.1K
-38.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$268€231
-72.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$31.54€27.16
-63.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$19.58€16.86
-8.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$43.63€37.57
37.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$24.00€20.67
-30.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$15.49€13.33
-57.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$328€282
-18.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$11.4K€9,827
-54.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$108€93.1
-28.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$13.65€11.75
227.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$86.7€74.7
34.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$103€88.6
9.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$764€658
-9.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$641€552
-27.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$1,313€1,131
0.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$1,057€910
-26.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$2,279€1,962
6.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$1,447€1,246
-0.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kotka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$3,219€2,772
-79.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.4
249.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kotka: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $764 in Kotka. 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 378% higher in Kotka, 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $54.0 in Kotka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $356 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kotka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kotka cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Kotka is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $2,844 in Kotka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Kotka?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $54.0 in Kotka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Kotka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $1,896 in Kotka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Kotka?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Kotka at $1,896. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kotka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Kotka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Kotka?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kotka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.