😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $809 in Surat Thani, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,312 in Surat Thani, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,816 in Surat Thani, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 50% more than Surat Thani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Surat Thani are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Surat Thani40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.69
$1.90฿62.0
468.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$18.39฿601
134.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.02
$4.68฿153
77.14%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$1.59฿51.8
88.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.50฿16.37
64.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.30฿9.78
53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.51฿82.1
-11.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.74
$3.73฿122
-21.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.92฿62.8
0.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.22฿39.98
-44.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.10฿35.78
70.91%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$1.89฿61.6
34.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.69
$19.57฿639
-62.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$3.68฿120
68.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$7.93฿259
18.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$3.35฿110
-63.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.69฿55.3
-1.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.12฿69.1
-15.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.95
$1.78฿58.1
25.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.21฿39.61
-41.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.45฿47.42
-53.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.99฿32.20
19.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.41฿13.54
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$3.13฿102
-4.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.20
$18.86฿616
-59.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.65฿53.8
-6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.69฿87.9
-16.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.10฿36.05
-67.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.35
$21.39฿699
-32.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.06฿34.71
40.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.61฿19.90
11.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$3.67฿120
97.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.21฿39.37
-5.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$27.8K฿907.9K
-33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$33.6K฿1.1M
-40.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$77.4฿2,528
-4.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.90
$13.88฿453
-16.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.38
$18.38฿600
-2.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$50.1฿1,636
20.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.62
$12.18฿398
37.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$4.49฿147
46.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾707
$703฿23.0K
-62.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$16.1K฿525.2K
-67.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$59.3฿1,935
31.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$35.21฿1,150
27.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$114฿3,732
2.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$84.6฿2,762
33.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$240฿7,833
188.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$156฿5,098
195.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,504
$693฿22.6K
90.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$416฿13.6K
86.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,454
$2,094฿68.4K
16.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,839
$1,698฿55.5K
-14.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Surat Thani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,786
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.33
123.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Surat Thani: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $240 in Surat Thani. 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $18.00 in Surat Thani. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $255 in Surat Thani – 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 Surat Thani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Surat Thani compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $809 in Surat Thani – roughly 50% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Surat Thani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,213 in Surat Thani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Surat Thani?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surat Thani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Surat Thani?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $703 in Surat Thani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surat Thani, where all-in costs run around $809, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Surat Thani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Surat Thani?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $809 in Surat Thani to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani?
If budget matters most, go with Surat Thani. 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.