Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kyoto Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kyoto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,295 in Kyoto, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,158 in Kyoto, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,021 in Kyoto, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 8% cheaper than Kyoto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Kyoto are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Kyoto 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.57
$10.46 ¥1,708
4.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$34.88 ¥5,696
23.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.32
$5.58 ¥911
52.87%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.82
$3.56 ¥582
-16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$0.91 ¥149
-10.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$0.75 ¥123
-44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.66
$3.45 ¥563
-37.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.53
$6.74 ¥1,100
-57.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.66 ¥271
16.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.78 ¥291
-61.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$3.11 ¥508
-40.51%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.63
$2.23 ¥364
13.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.70
$9.27 ¥1,513
-18.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.40
$7.46 ¥1,218
-16.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.10
$15.46 ¥2,525
-37.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$5.53 ¥903
-79.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$2.48 ¥406
-33.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$6.44 ¥1,052
-70.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$3.85 ¥629
-42.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.65 ¥269
-57.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$2.29 ¥373
-72.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.10
$1.24 ¥202
-4.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.96 ¥157
-27.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.79
$4.22 ¥689
-29.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.46
$7.39 ¥1,206
0.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.71 ¥280
-9.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$3.72 ¥608
-38.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$1.65 ¥270
-78.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.56
$68.1 ¥11.1K
-78.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$3.39 ¥553
-58.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$2.88 ¥471
-76.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$18.05 ¥2,948
-59.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.22 ¥200
-10.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾48.0K
$23.3K ¥3.8M
-21.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$16.7K ¥2.7M
22.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$114 ¥18.6K
-34.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.65
$26.49 ¥4,325
-55.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.08
$33.95 ¥5,543
-48.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$57.0 ¥9,300
5.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.65
$21.03 ¥3,434
-22.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$12.94 ¥2,114
-49.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$374 ¥61.0K
-28.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$7,364 ¥1.2M
-30.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$46.64 ¥7,616
65.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$31.57 ¥5,155
37.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$73.4 ¥12.0K
61.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$90.8 ¥14.8K
24.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,857
$591 ¥96.5K
20.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,216
$341 ¥55.7K
36.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,444
$1,675 ¥273.5K
-21.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$922 ¥150.6K
-16.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,525
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,775
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kyoto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$1,852 ¥302.4K
-64.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
1.78
567.98%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Kyoto: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $591 in Kyoto. 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 179% higher in Kyoto, 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 $35.00 in Kyoto. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $312 in Kyoto – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kyoto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Kyoto compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi, $1,295 in Kyoto – roughly 9% apart. Kyoto costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Kyoto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $1,942 in Kyoto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Kyoto?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 53% more in Kyoto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $35.00 in Kyoto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,191, than in Kyoto at $1,295. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kyoto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Kyoto?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,191 in Tbilisi to $1,295 in Kyoto. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Kyoto safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Kyoto?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kyoto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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