Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Pathein Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Pathein

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $817 in Pathein.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,491 in Pathein.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,165 in Pathein.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 45% more expensive than Pathein, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Pathein 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$1.54 MMK 3,238
624.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$17.71 MMK 37.2K
143.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$5.66 MMK 11.9K
45.23%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$1.51 MMK 3,173
107.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$0.48 MMK 1,011
54.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.51 MMK 1,077
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$0.97 MMK 2,038
119.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$0.99 MMK 2,068
202.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.86 MMK 3,899
1.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$0.96 MMK 2,011
-23.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.40 MMK 2,941
32.14%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$1.49 MMK 3,119
64.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$7.76 MMK 16.3K
1.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$6.13 MMK 12.9K
1.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$7.93 MMK 16.6K
23.20%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$5.50 MMK 11.5K
-78.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.14 MMK 2,388
39.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$2.72 MMK 5,716
-34.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$3.30 MMK 6,926
-29.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$2.49 MMK 5,223
-71.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.56 MMK 3,267
-57.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.52 MMK 1,091
126.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.31 MMK 644
129.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$1.62 MMK 3,392
80.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$19.75 MMK 41.4K
-63.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$0.92 MMK 1,927
68.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.21 MMK 2,540
90.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$1.11 MMK 2,336
33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.02 MMK 2,145
-32.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$2.98 MMK 6,245
150.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.98 MMK 4,160
-41.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$31.5K MMK 66.1M
-42.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$32.3K MMK 67.7M
-38.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$55.0 MMK 115.4K
33.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$11.00 MMK 23.1K
5.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$10.05 MMK 21.1K
76.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$72.8 MMK 152.7K
-16.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$1.96 MMK 4,121
232.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$327 MMK 685.8K
-19.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$4,738 MMK 9.9M
8.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$19.63 MMK 41.2K
295.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$15.03 MMK 31.6K
195.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$50.0 MMK 105.0K
135.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$60.1 MMK 126.1K
90.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$394 MMK 827.1K
75.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$295 MMK 619.9K
56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,117 MMK 2.3M
19.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$981 MMK 2.1M
-20.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pathein
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
11
8.09%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Pathein: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $394 in Pathein. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $18.00 in Pathein. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $242, 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 Pathein: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Pathein?
Tbilisi and Pathein differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $817 including rent). Pathein is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Pathein?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,225 in Pathein to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Pathein?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $394 in Pathein. 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 Pathein?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $327 in Pathein. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pathein – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $817 in Pathein versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pathein but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Pathein the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Pathein?
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 Pathein safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Pathein 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 Pathein?
Expats usually find Pathein gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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