😐A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $983 in Saitama, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,315 in Saitama, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,646 in Saitama, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 31% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Saitama are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi6% lower, Saitama28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.58
$5.61¥872
108.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.9
$30.87¥4,804
22.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.43
$4.75¥739
105.05%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.91
$2.98¥464
14.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.77
$0.71¥111
49.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.59¥92.2
10.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.06
$2.48¥386
8.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.09
$3.08¥480
0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.74
$1.41¥220
56.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.72¥268
-52.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$2.77¥432
-40.79%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.19
$1.97¥307
39.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.52
$11.85¥1,844
-23.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.10
$5.34¥831
22.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.94
$14.55¥2,265
-13.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$5.55¥864
-69.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$2.20¥343
-17.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.04
$2.77¥431
-30.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$4.06¥633
-36.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$2.51¥391
-65.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.54¥239
-57.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$1.26¥196
10.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.72¥112
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$3.69¥574
-8.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.68
$6.35¥989
18.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$1.72¥268
-6.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$1.99¥310
13.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$3.35¥521
-88.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.45
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.06
$3.11¥485
-62.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$2.46¥382
-67.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.58
$20.32¥3,163
-44.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.05¥164
26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$21.6K¥3.4M
15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$14.5K¥2.3M
54.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾233
$131¥20.4K
-31.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.58
$17.94¥2,792
-26.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$31.96¥4,974
-39.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾179
$61.9¥9,629
10.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.77
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.32
$10.82¥1,683
-38.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾949
$633¥98.6K
-42.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$14.4K¥2.2M
-26.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$34.98¥5,444
195.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$24.53¥3,818
58.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$55.4¥8,622
110.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$61.4¥9,560
99.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,782
$409¥63.7K
66.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,166
$226¥35.1K
97.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,353
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,401
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,492
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,715
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Saitama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,686
$1,517¥236.1K
-57.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
2.06
517.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Saitama: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $409 in Saitama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 135% higher in Saitama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $31.00 in Saitama. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $278 in Saitama – 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 Saitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saitama cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $1,475 in Saitama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Saitama?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,286 in Tbilisi and $983 in Saitama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Tbilisi and $633 in Saitama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Saitama?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Saitama more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Saitama?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Saitama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.