😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $298 in Kottayam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $498 in Kottayam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $697 in Kottayam, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 305% more than Kottayam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Kottayam are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Kottayam78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$1.19₹113
807.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$10.03₹955
330.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$3.96₹378
109.34%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$0.61₹57.7
391.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.40₹38.48
105.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.16₹15.18
187.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.38₹131
61.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.84₹270
2.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$0.62₹59.2
211.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.43₹41.24
58.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$0.78₹74.3
141.03%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$0.82₹78.1
209.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$2.27₹216
226.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$3.04₹289
103.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.29₹218
-46.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$0.63₹59.8
163.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.14₹108
57.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$0.49₹46.84
357.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.47₹45.24
51.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.46₹43.39
45.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.40₹38.07
195.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.33₹31.30
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$4.16₹396
-28.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$3.97₹378
91.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.72₹163
-10.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$3.55₹338
-36.62%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.49₹428
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.30₹28.61
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$8.52₹812
69.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$1.18₹113
26.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.32₹30.86
112.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$1.68₹160
330.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.18₹112
-3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$9,374₹892.9K
96.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$15.2K₹1.4M
31.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$27.76₹2,644
165.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$3.39₹323
243.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$8.49₹809
110.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$8.86₹844
578.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$11.69₹1,114
43.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$2.10₹200
214.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$57.6₹5,482
362.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$1,564₹149.0K
231.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$23.36₹2,225
232.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$17.48₹1,665
156.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$25.68₹2,446
354.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$17.46₹1,663
546.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$139₹13.2K
399.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$58.0₹5,527
695.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$287₹27.4K
359.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$165₹15.7K
368.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$957₹91.1K
154.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$548₹52.2K
164.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kottayam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$291₹27.8K
130.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.36
27.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kottayam: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $139 in Kottayam. 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 131% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $10.00 in Kottayam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $93.0 – making Kottayam 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 Kottayam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kottayam?
Tbilisi costs about 305% more than Kottayam, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Kottayam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $448 in Kottayam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Kottayam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kottayam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Kottayam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $298 in Kottayam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Kottayam?
Public transport costs about 69% less in Kottayam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Kottayam?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kottayam, where all-in costs run around $298, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Kottayam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kottayam?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kottayam costs $298 versus $1,209 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kottayam?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or Kottayam?
If budget matters most, go with Kottayam. 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.