Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Paihia Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Paihia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,880 in Paihia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,845 in Paihia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,811 in Paihia, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 35% cheaper than Paihia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 9% below the global median, while Paihia is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$14.94 NZ$25.51
-27.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$36.23 NZ$61.9
21.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$9.19 NZ$15.69
-9.90%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$3.37 NZ$5.75
-10.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$2.29 NZ$3.90
-66.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$2.18 NZ$3.72
-78.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$7.45 NZ$12.73
-69.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$7.28 NZ$12.43
-58.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.82 NZ$3.10
6.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$2.11 NZ$3.61
-65.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$1.96 NZ$3.34
-6.12%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$6.75 NZ$11.53
-63.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$8.71 NZ$14.87
-14.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$9.66 NZ$16.50
-32.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$12.82 NZ$21.90
-24.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$2.78 NZ$4.74
-56.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$2.29 NZ$3.91
-31.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$3.23 NZ$5.51
-44.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$3.99 NZ$6.81
-44.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$2.08 NZ$3.56
-68.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$1.69 NZ$2.88
-59.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$1.91 NZ$3.26
-37.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$1.23 NZ$2.10
-43.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$25.53 NZ$43.59
-88.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$9.80 NZ$16.74
-25.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$3.05 NZ$5.21
-50.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$3.90 NZ$6.66
-42.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$2.06 NZ$3.52
-82.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$65.0 NZ$111
-77.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$1.78 NZ$3.04
-15.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$1.91 NZ$3.26
-61.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$34.94 NZ$59.7
-78.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.62 NZ$2.77
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$27.9K NZ$47.7K
-33.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$21.8K NZ$37.3K
-7.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$144 NZ$246
-48.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$30.33 NZ$51.8
-61.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$48.75 NZ$83.2
-62.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$36.16 NZ$61.7
70.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$12.12 NZ$20.69
37.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$15.36 NZ$26.24
-56.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$918 NZ$1,568
-71.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$13.9K NZ$23.7K
-62.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$71.4 NZ$122
4.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$49.73 NZ$84.9
-11.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$97.6 NZ$167
20.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$126 NZ$216
-10.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$969 NZ$1,656
-28.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$782 NZ$1,336
-41.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$1,558 NZ$2,660
-15.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$1,418 NZ$2,421
-44.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$4,009 NZ$6,845
-39.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$3,753 NZ$6,408
-61.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Paihia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6.37
86.66%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Paihia: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $969 in Paihia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $36.00 in Paihia. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $322 in Paihia – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Paihia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Paihia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $1,880 in Paihia – roughly 54% apart. Paihia costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Paihia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $2,820 in Paihia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Paihia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Paihia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $36.00 in Paihia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,218, than in Paihia at $1,880. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paihia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Paihia?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,218 in Tbilisi to $1,880 in Paihia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Paihia safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Paihia?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paihia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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