Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Rui'an

For one person, living is cheaper in Rui'an: $714 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Rui'an
🇨🇳 China
$714
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Rui'an

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Rui'an actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $714 in Rui'an.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Rui'an $714

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $1,133 in Rui'an.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Rui'an $1,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $1,552 in Rui'an.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Rui'an $1,552

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 78% more expensive than in Rui'an, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Rui'an 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$2.83 ¥18.91
306.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$21.42 ¥143
78.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$4.92 ¥32.91
99.19%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$3.11 ¥20.77
14.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$0.43 ¥2.89
146.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.29 ¥1.96
113.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$0.92 ¥6.17
200.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$2.06 ¥13.79
45.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.85 ¥12.39
16.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.61 ¥10.73
-52.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$0.95 ¥6.34
83.16%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$1.55 ¥10.38
80.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$12.91 ¥86.3
-28.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$3.24 ¥21.64
101.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$10.13 ¥67.7
26.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.79 ¥11.95
-6.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.20 ¥8.03
54.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.54 ¥10.32
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$1.14 ¥7.64
120.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.69 ¥4.61
26.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$0.92 ¥6.14
-20.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.60 ¥4.00
136.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.55 ¥3.70
30.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$3.22 ¥21.50
4.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$10.43 ¥69.7
-24.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$0.74 ¥4.93
118.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$1.65 ¥11.04
44.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.27 ¥1.80
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$16.57 ¥111
-6.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$1.38 ¥9.21
-17.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.32 ¥2.17
146.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$6.72 ¥44.95
72.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.13 ¥7.53
32.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$19.4K ¥130.0K
26.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$17.4K ¥116.1K
28.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$44.23 ¥296
99.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$10.04 ¥67.1
30.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$11.61 ¥77.6
68.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$41.34 ¥276
55.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$13.91 ¥93.0
37.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$5.77 ¥38.60
21.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$341 ¥2,279
9.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$16.5K ¥110.6K
-35.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$43.27 ¥289
137.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$30.29 ¥203
33.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$71.0 ¥475
63.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$72.3 ¥484
68.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$275 ¥1,839
146.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$192 ¥1,285
136.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$600 ¥4,010
112.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$362 ¥2,418
146.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$3,056 ¥20.4K
-21.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$2,008 ¥13.4K
-29.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Rui'an
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
3.89
224.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Rui'an: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Rui'an
$192 57.7% $262
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Rui'an
$199 14.7% $34
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Rui'an
$86 54.7% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Rui'an
$98 43.1% $74
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Rui'an
$66 45.5% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Rui'an
$53 32.3% $25
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Rui'an
$21 6.6% $1.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $275 in Rui'an. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $21.00 in Rui'an for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $199 per month, with Rui'an cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇨🇳 Rui'an
🕒 Local time
20:57 8:57 PM
00:57 12:57 AM
4 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
213,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Rui'an 6,880 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Rui'an

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rui'an: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Rui'an?
Rui'an wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rui'an the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Rui'an?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Tbilisi and $1,071 in Rui'an 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Rui'an?
Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Tbilisi versus $275 in Rui'an. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Rui'an?
Dining out is cheaper in Rui'an – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Rui'an?
All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Tbilisi versus $714 in Rui'an – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Rui'an?
At $714 in Rui'an versus $1,270 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rui'an but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Rui'an the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Rui'an?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rui'an delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $714 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rui'an hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Rui'an?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Rui'an 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 Rui'an gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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