Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Nuku'alofa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Nuku'alofa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,005 in Nuku'alofa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,844 in Nuku'alofa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $2,683 in Nuku'alofa.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 21% more expensive than Nuku'alofa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Nuku'alofa 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$8.15 TOP 19.16
33.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$61.8 TOP 145
-28.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$10.25 TOP 24.08
-19.22%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.84 TOP 6.68
6.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$2.79 TOP 6.55
-72.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$2.43 TOP 5.71
-81.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$3.27 TOP 7.68
-31.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$5.00 TOP 11.74
-40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.52 TOP 3.58
26.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.03 TOP 2.41
-30.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$2.04 TOP 4.79
-9.80%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$5.06 TOP 11.90
-51.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$9.26 TOP 21.77
-19.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$5.97 TOP 14.03
8.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$7.47 TOP 17.57
29.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$2.80 TOP 6.59
-57.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$2.74 TOP 6.45
-43.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$2.93 TOP 6.87
-38.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$3.81 TOP 8.97
-41.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$3.13 TOP 7.35
-79.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$2.57 TOP 6.05
-73.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$2.19 TOP 5.15
-45.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$1.40 TOP 3.30
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$10.16 TOP 23.89
-70.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$17.10 TOP 40.18
-57.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$3.17 TOP 7.44
-52.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$3.34 TOP 7.84
-32.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$2.14 TOP 5.03
-83.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$41.77 TOP 98.2
-65.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$2.10 TOP 4.94
-28.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$41.84 TOP 98.3
-82.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.42 TOP 3.34
-19.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$5,714 TOP 13.4K
223.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$8,146 TOP 19.1K
148.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$187 TOP 440
-60.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$22.19 TOP 52.2
-47.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$123 TOP 289
-85.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$31.12 TOP 73.2
98.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$41.83 TOP 98.3
-60.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$41.79 TOP 98.2
-84.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$160 TOP 375
65.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$252 TOP 592
1941.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$14.64 TOP 34.42
411.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$17.82 TOP 41.88
146.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$20.64 TOP 48.51
469.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$28.91 TOP 68.0
293.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$612 TOP 1,438
13.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$833 TOP 1,957
58.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$554 TOP 1,303
42.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$414 TOP 972
487.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$248 TOP 583
481.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$683 TOP 1,606
-5.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
0
-

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Nuku'alofa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $612 in Nuku'alofa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nuku'alofa 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $62.0 in Nuku'alofa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $292 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 Nuku'alofa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Nuku'alofa?
Tbilisi and Nuku'alofa differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $1,005 including rent). Nuku'alofa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nuku'alofa 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 Nuku'alofa?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $612 in Nuku'alofa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nuku'alofa – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Nuku'alofa?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,005 in Nuku'alofa – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,005 in Nuku'alofa versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nuku'alofa but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Nuku'alofa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Nuku'alofa?
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 Nuku'alofa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Nuku'alofa 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 Nuku'alofa?
Expats usually find Nuku'alofa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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