Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Otsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Otsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,223 in Otsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,920 in Otsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $2,617 in Otsu.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 2% less than in Otsu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Otsu 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$8.50 ¥1,382
27.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$34.39 ¥5,587
27.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$5.47 ¥888
51.92%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$3.01 ¥490
-1.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.91 ¥149
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.72 ¥117
-36.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$3.45 ¥560
-37.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$3.20 ¥520
-10.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.69 ¥275
12.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.71 ¥278
-58.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$3.10 ¥503
-38.39%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$2.34 ¥379
5.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$9.56 ¥1,554
-19.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$7.71 ¥1,253
-19.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$15.61 ¥2,537
-38.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$5.46 ¥887
-78.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$2.60 ¥422
-36.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$4.83 ¥785
-61.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$3.94 ¥641
-40.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.60 ¥260
-55.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$2.37 ¥385
-71.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$1.31 ¥212
-9.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$1.01 ¥164
-34.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$4.06 ¥660
-28.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$9.06 ¥1,472
-15.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.80 ¥292
-11.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$2.40 ¥390
-3.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$1.59 ¥258
-76.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$54.9 ¥8,916
-73.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$3.44 ¥559
-56.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$2.93 ¥475
-76.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$17.07 ¥2,773
-57.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.19 ¥194
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$22.8K ¥3.7M
-18.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$17.1K ¥2.8M
19.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$110 ¥17.9K
-33.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$26.63 ¥4,326
-55.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$33.78 ¥5,488
-46.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$54.9 ¥8,916
11.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$13.64 ¥2,216
21.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$12.54 ¥2,037
-46.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$374 ¥60.7K
-28.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$7,474 ¥1.2M
-31.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$45.41 ¥7,378
68.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$31.67 ¥5,146
37.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$56.1 ¥9,119
114.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$92.5 ¥15.0K
19.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$468 ¥76.1K
46.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$323 ¥52.5K
45.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$856 ¥139.1K
58.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$669 ¥108.8K
17.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$4,318 ¥701.6K
-42.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$2,079 ¥337.7K
-29.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Otsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$1,769 ¥287.5K
-62.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
1.78
567.98%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Otsu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $468 in Otsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Otsu pays 168% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $34.00 in Otsu. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $311, 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 Otsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Otsu?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Otsu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Otsu?
On paper, salaries run 168% lower in Otsu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Otsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $468 in Otsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Otsu?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $374 in Otsu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Otsu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Otsu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Otsu?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,223 in Otsu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Otsu. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Otsu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,197 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Otsu?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Otsu 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Otsu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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