😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $871 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,325 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,779 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 39% more expensive than Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Lapu-Lapu35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$4.39₱271
146.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$17.85₱1,100
141.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$4.40₱271
88.41%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$2.60₱160
15.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.80₱49.56
2.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.45₱27.90
2.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.51₱93.3
47.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.11₱130
38.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.65₱102
16.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.44₱88.6
-52.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.07₱66.0
75.70%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.30₱142
10.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$12.15₱749
-38.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$5.29₱326
17.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$7.60₱469
23.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$3.24₱200
-62.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.38₱85.2
20.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.43₱150
-25.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.19₱135
2.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$2.25₱139
-68.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.85₱114
-63.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.91₱56.4
29.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.83₱51.5
-20.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$1.79₱110
66.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$3.42₱211
122.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.03₱63.6
49.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$2.27₱140
-0.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.28₱17.27
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$0.83₱51.1
79.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.23₱14.17
195.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$2.59₱160
179.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.10₱68.1
3.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$24.6K₱1.5M
-25.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$32.6K₱2.0M
-38.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$98.3₱6,059
-25.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$26.52₱1,636
-56.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$29.66₱1,829
-39.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$43.48₱2,681
38.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$1.81₱112
828.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$5.83₱359
13.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$125₱7,727
112.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$1,743₱107.5K
197.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$46.92₱2,893
65.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$23.05₱1,421
94.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$76.7₱4,729
52.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$56.2₱3,467
100.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$337₱20.8K
105.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$243₱15.0K
89.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$842₱51.9K
56.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$504₱31.1K
53.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$216₱13.3K
211.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
8
48.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lapu-Lapu: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $337 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 211% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $216, 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 Lapu-Lapu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Lapu-Lapu?
Tbilisi and Lapu-Lapu differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $871 including rent). Lapu-Lapu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Lapu-Lapu?
Tbilisi pays 211% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Lapu-Lapu?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $337 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Lapu-Lapu?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $125 in Lapu-Lapu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lapu-Lapu – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $871 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lapu-Lapu but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Lapu-Lapu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Lapu-Lapu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Lapu-Lapu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Lapu-Lapu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Lapu-Lapu?
Expats usually find Lapu-Lapu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.