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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,279 in Kyoto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,052 in Kyoto, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,826 in Kyoto, rent included.

Tbilisi and Kyoto have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Tbilisi and Kyoto are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Kyoto 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$9.48 ¥1,455

20.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$32.66 ¥5,015

16.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$5.33 ¥819

76.36%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$3.40 ¥522

-0.59%

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

$1.04 ₾2.70

$0.90 ¥137

15.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.76 ¥116

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$3.30 ¥507

-17.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$5.69 ¥874

-46.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$1.60 ¥246

41.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$1.68 ¥258

-52.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$6.04 ¥927

-73.18%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$2.13 ¥328

28.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$8.73 ¥1,341

6.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$6.45 ¥991

5.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$11.65 ¥1,790

11.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$5.08 ¥780

-67.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$2.32 ¥356

-21.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$5.15 ¥790

-63.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$3.76 ¥578

-31.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$1.98 ¥305

-57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.76 ¥271

-63.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$1.21 ¥185

12.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.95 ¥146

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$3.96 ¥608

-14.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$7.60 ¥1,167

0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$1.61 ¥248

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$3.49 ¥536

-31.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$1.46 ¥224

-73.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$64.4 ¥9,888

-75.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$3.47 ¥534

-67.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$3.78 ¥580

-80.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$29.10 ¥4,468

-61.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.08 ¥165

27.78%

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

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$21.9K ¥3.4M

12.02%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$15.8K ¥2.4M

39.41%

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

$88.7 ₾231

$104 ¥16.0K

-14.99%

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

$13.18 ₾34.26

$24.66 ¥3,786

-46.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$31.80 ¥4,882

-38.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$54.7 ¥8,394

24.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

$19.22 ¥2,951

-6.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$12.45 ¥1,912

-48.43%

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

$372 ₾967

$667 ¥102.5K

-44.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$6,681 ¥1.0M

61.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$58.5 ¥8,984

78.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$46.00 ¥7,064

-15.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$71.8 ¥11.0K

59.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$105 ¥16.1K

16.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$577 ¥88.6K

17.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$334 ¥51.3K

36.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$1,803 ¥276.8K

-27.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$789 ¥121.2K

13.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$2,267 ¥348.1K

5.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$1,296 ¥199.0K

9.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$1,981 ¥304.2K

-67.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

2.23

465.92%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kyoto: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $577 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 210% higher in Kyoto. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $33.00 in Kyoto. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Tbilisi vs $294 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,918 in Kyoto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kyoto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $372 per month in Tbilisi and $667 in Kyoto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyoto, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Kyoto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,279 in Kyoto to $1,279 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kyoto. 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.