🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,870 in Papamoa Beach.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,893 in Papamoa Beach.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $3,915 in Papamoa Beach.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 37% less than in Papamoa Beach, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Papamoa Beach is 40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$15.06NZ$25.75
-25.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$78.8NZ$135
-45.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$9.73NZ$16.65
-15.52%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$3.51NZ$5.99
-10.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$2.24NZ$3.84
-66.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$2.20NZ$3.77
-79.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$7.45NZ$12.74
-71.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$7.27NZ$12.44
-58.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.75NZ$3.00
8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.08NZ$1.85
-32.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$2.01NZ$3.43
-7.96%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$6.84NZ$11.69
-64.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.84NZ$15.12
-11.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$9.73NZ$16.64
-35.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$13.15NZ$22.49
-25.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.85NZ$4.87
-57.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.23NZ$3.81
-28.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$3.20NZ$5.48
-44.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$4.11NZ$7.03
-43.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$2.04NZ$3.49
-65.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.65NZ$2.82
-59.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.90NZ$3.26
-37.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.29NZ$2.20
-44.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$25.36NZ$43.36
-88.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$10.17NZ$17.39
-28.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.98NZ$5.09
-47.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.95NZ$6.76
-41.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$2.13NZ$3.64
-82.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$63.1NZ$108
-76.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.09NZ$3.58
-29.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$2.00NZ$3.43
-65.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$35.97NZ$61.5
-79.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.62NZ$2.76
-29.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$28.1KNZ$48.0K
-35.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$22.1KNZ$37.7K
-10.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$141NZ$242
-48.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$30.30NZ$51.8
-61.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$49.05NZ$83.9
-63.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$36.29NZ$62.1
66.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$12.26NZ$20.97
34.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$15.23NZ$26.04
-57.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$919NZ$1,571
-71.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$13.6KNZ$23.3K
-62.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$63.3NZ$108
22.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$50.9NZ$87.0
-12.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$85.9NZ$147
36.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$119NZ$203
-3.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$972NZ$1,662
-28.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$787NZ$1,346
-41.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$1,571NZ$2,687
-14.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$1,402NZ$2,398
-44.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$4,918NZ$8,409
-48.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$3,402NZ$5,817
-57.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Papamoa Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$1,672NZ$2,859
-62.17%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Papamoa Beach: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $972 in Papamoa Beach. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Papamoa Beach pays 164% 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 $79.0 in Papamoa Beach for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $315 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 Papamoa Beach: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Papamoa Beach?
Tbilisi and Papamoa Beach differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,870 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Papamoa Beach earns 164% 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 Papamoa Beach?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $972 in Papamoa Beach. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Papamoa Beach?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $919 in Papamoa Beach. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Papamoa Beach. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,870 in Papamoa Beach, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Papamoa Beach. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Papamoa Beach?
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 Papamoa Beach safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Papamoa Beach 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 Papamoa Beach?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Papamoa Beach. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.