🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,267 in Lower Hutt.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $3,347 in Lower Hutt.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $4,427 in Lower Hutt.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 48% less than in Lower Hutt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Lower Hutt is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$17.43NZ$29.80
-36.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$85.8NZ$147
-49.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$10.55NZ$18.03
-22.09%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$3.54NZ$6.05
-11.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$2.39NZ$4.08
-69.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$2.16NZ$3.69
-79.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$7.04NZ$12.03
-69.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$6.31NZ$10.80
-52.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.88NZ$3.22
0.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$2.09NZ$3.57
-65.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.87NZ$3.19
-1.07%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$6.98NZ$11.93
-64.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.28NZ$14.16
-5.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$9.09NZ$15.54
-31.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$12.98NZ$22.20
-24.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.49NZ$4.26
-51.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.09NZ$3.57
-23.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$2.58NZ$4.41
-30.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$4.65NZ$7.95
-50.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.98NZ$3.39
-64.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.74NZ$2.97
-61.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$2.19NZ$3.75
-46.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.28NZ$2.19
-44.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$21.88NZ$37.42
-86.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$9.60NZ$16.41
-24.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$3.65NZ$6.23
-57.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.13NZ$5.35
-26.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$2.77NZ$4.73
-86.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$65.2NZ$111
-77.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.75NZ$4.70
-46.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.78NZ$3.04
-61.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$60.4NZ$103
-87.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.71NZ$2.93
-32.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$28.3KNZ$48.4K
-36.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$25.4KNZ$43.5K
-21.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$159NZ$273
-53.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$37.55NZ$64.2
-69.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$52.2NZ$89.3
-65.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$40.63NZ$69.5
49.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$12.19NZ$20.85
34.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$10.96NZ$18.75
-40.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$761NZ$1,301
-65.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$11.6KNZ$19.8K
-55.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$70.9NZ$121
9.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$56.4NZ$96.4
-21.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$121NZ$207
-2.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$142NZ$242
-19.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$1,363NZ$2,331
-49.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$1,113NZ$1,903
-58.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$2,360NZ$4,036
-43.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$1,696NZ$2,900
-54.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$6,951NZ$11.9K
-63.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$3,422NZ$5,852
-58.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lower Hutt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$3,450NZ$5,900
-81.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.94
71.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Lower Hutt: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,363 in Lower Hutt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lower Hutt pays 445% 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 $86.0 in Lower Hutt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $320 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 Lower Hutt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lower Hutt cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Lower Hutt?
On paper, Lower Hutt earns 445% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Lower Hutt?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,363 in Lower Hutt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 340% less than in Lower Hutt. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $761 in Lower Hutt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Lower Hutt?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,267 in Lower Hutt, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Lower Hutt. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Lower Hutt more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lower Hutt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Lower Hutt?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Lower Hutt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Lower Hutt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.