Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lautoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lautoka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $697 in Lautoka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,222 in Lautoka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,746 in Lautoka.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 73% more expensive than Lautoka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Lautoka 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.70
$5.02 FJD 11.00
115.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$45.40 FJD 99.4
-4.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.03
$6.61 FJD 14.48
25.42%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$3.21 FJD 7.03
-6.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.31 FJD 2.87
-37.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.67 FJD 1.46
-31.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.41 FJD 5.28
-7.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$3.49 FJD 7.65
-16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.33 FJD 2.91
45.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$0.53 FJD 1.17
28.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$0.82 FJD 1.79
129.27%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$3.22 FJD 7.04
-21.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$9.26 FJD 20.28
-19.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$7.15 FJD 15.66
-13.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$7.50 FJD 16.43
24.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$2.53 FJD 5.54
-51.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$2.51 FJD 5.49
-33.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$2.83 FJD 6.20
-36.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$3.09 FJD 6.77
-27.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.96 FJD 2.09
-26.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$0.95 FJD 2.08
-29.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.92 FJD 2.02
28.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.80 FJD 1.75
-17.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$9.42 FJD 20.63
-68.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.21
$5.55 FJD 12.14
37.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$2.24 FJD 4.90
-31.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$2.61 FJD 5.72
-13.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.70 FJD 1.53
-48.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.36
$37.66 FJD 82.5
-61.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$0.64 FJD 1.39
132.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.44 FJD 0.97
54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$2.73 FJD 5.97
164.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.34 FJD 2.93
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$19.3K FJD 42.3K
-4.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$22.4K FJD 49.1K
-10.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$46.45 FJD 102
58.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.91
$12.98 FJD 28.43
-10.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.39
$23.91 FJD 52.4
-25.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$3.48 FJD 7.61
89.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$230 FJD 503
16.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$14.0K FJD 30.6K
-62.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$17.68 FJD 38.73
339.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$17.50 FJD 38.32
155.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$66.1 FJD 145
76.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$60.3 FJD 132
87.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$354 FJD 776
95.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$133 FJD 292
246.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,505
$856 FJD 1,874
54.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$393 FJD 862
96.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,455
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lautoka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,787
$712 FJD 1,560
-5.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7
69.86%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $354 in Lautoka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $45.00 in Lautoka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $221 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

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 Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Lautoka?
Tbilisi and Lautoka differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $697 including rent). Lautoka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lautoka earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Lautoka?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $354 in Lautoka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Lautoka?
All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $697 in Lautoka – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Lautoka?
A monthly transit pass in Lautoka runs roughly 161% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $697 in Lautoka versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lautoka but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Lautoka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Lautoka?
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 Lautoka safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Lautoka 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 Lautoka?
Expats usually find Lautoka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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