Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lihir Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lihir Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $233 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $428 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $623 in Lihir Island, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 411% more than Lihir Island, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Lihir Island are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Lihir Island 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$4.86 PGK 21.44

124.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$28.36 PGK 125

52.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

$6.18 PGK 27.27

38.03%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$2.43 PGK 10.72

23.05%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.75 PGK 3.30

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.73 PGK 3.22

-42.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$3.63 PGK 16.00

-40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$2.45 PGK 10.80

17.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.73 PGK 7.63

12.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.42 PGK 6.26

-52.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$1.48 PGK 6.52

25.00%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$2.31 PGK 10.20

9.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$4.21 PGK 18.56

48.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$2.33 PGK 10.28

311.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.46 PGK 6.46

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$2.44 PGK 10.78

-71.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$0.98 PGK 4.32

-34.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.50 PGK 2.22

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$5.98 PGK 26.38

-50.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$2.35 PGK 10.37

-34.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$2.43 PGK 10.70

-6.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

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

$74.4 ₾195

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

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

$269 ₾704

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $28.00 in Lihir Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $115 – making Lihir Island the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lihir Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi, $233 in Lihir Island – roughly 411% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $349 in Lihir Island. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $28.00 in Lihir Island. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,191 in Tbilisi and $233 in Lihir Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lihir Island, where all-in costs run around $233, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Lihir Island 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 $233 in Lihir Island to $1,191 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 Lihir Island. 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.