Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kurunegala Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kurunegala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $475 in Kurunegala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $770 in Kurunegala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,065 in Kurunegala.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 163% more expensive than in Kurunegala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Kurunegala 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$1.82 LKR 600

522.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$26.28 LKR 8,690

47.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$4.45 LKR 1,470

113.93%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.45 LKR 809

39.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.48 LKR 159

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.25 LKR 81.8

156.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.26 LKR 746

15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.02 LKR 1,000

7.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.53 LKR 507

41.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.45 LKR 149

64.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.76 LKR 252

125.00%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.66 LKR 547

70.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.94

$13.08 LKR 4,326

-29.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$5.17 LKR 1,710

30.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.16

$7.16 LKR 2,367

78.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$6.90 LKR 2,283

-76.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$0.84 LKR 278

110.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$4.41 LKR 1,457

-57.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.23 LKR 406

98.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.00 LKR 330

-13.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.77 LKR 254

-15.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.63

$0.90 LKR 297

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.49 LKR 161

51.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$10.51 LKR 3,474

-67.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$13.62 LKR 4,505

-44.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.97 LKR 651

-13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.19

$2.91 LKR 962

-18.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.38 LKR 127

210.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.31 LKR 104

145.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$0.94 LKR 312

1106.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.09 LKR 361

22.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$29.9K LKR 9.9M

-17.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$43.1K LKR 14.3M

-48.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

$55.2 LKR 18.2K

61.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.62

$4.24 LKR 1,403

214.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$20.58 LKR 6,803

-2.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾46.99

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$4.35 LKR 1,437

54.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾970

$38.59 LKR 12.8K

868.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$1,202 LKR 397.3K

790.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$20.18 LKR 6,672

401.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$16.45 LKR 5,440

139.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$81.2 LKR 26.9K

44.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$42.70 LKR 14.1K

186.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,772

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,336

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,363

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,694

$151 LKR 49.9K

332.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

12.69

-0.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kurunegala: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 333% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $26.00 in Kurunegala. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $236, 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 Kurunegala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kurunegala is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 163% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 333% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $374 in Tbilisi versus $38.59 in Kurunegala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kurunegala – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $475 in Kurunegala versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kurunegala but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kurunegala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kurunegala 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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kurunegala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kurunegala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.