😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $629 in Taiyuan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,018 in Taiyuan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,406 in Taiyuan.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 92% more expensive than Taiyuan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Taiyuan53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$2.15¥14.53
402.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$21.14¥143
104.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$4.30¥29.11
92.79%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.38¥16.14
26.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.54¥3.66
51.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.32¥2.20
43.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.27¥8.62
75.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.15¥14.55
35.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.37¥9.26
40.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$2.85¥19.26
-76.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$0.70¥4.77
168.57%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$0.93¥6.33
173.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$14.09¥95.4
-47.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$2.84¥19.25
117.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$10.94¥74.1
-14.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.14¥14.51
-42.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.32¥8.90
25.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$0.83¥5.61
116.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.09¥7.36
105.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.49¥3.33
44.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.40¥2.71
67.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.44¥2.97
168.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.41¥2.76
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.11¥14.27
41.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$7.29¥49.34
4.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$0.72¥4.85
113.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$1.36¥9.21
65.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.29¥1.97
24.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$12.36¥83.7
16.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.08¥7.34
37.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.21¥1.42
223.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$3.44¥23.31
110.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.10¥7.43
3.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$23.0K¥155.9K
-19.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$20.4K¥138.2K
-2.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$69.0¥467
6.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$9.73¥65.9
19.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$12.08¥81.7
47.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$41.84¥283
43.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$8.45¥57.2
98.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$5.59¥37.82
18.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$417¥2,822
-36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$4,244¥28.7K
22.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$23.85¥161
225.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$48.81¥330
-8.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$68.5¥463
70.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$65.8¥445
71.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$208¥1,410
232.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$106¥715
337.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$502¥3,399
162.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$247¥1,672
213.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$2,663¥18.0K
-8.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$1,226¥8,296
17.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Taiyuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$925¥6,258
-27.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.83
210.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Taiyuan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $208 in Taiyuan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Taiyuan pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $21.00 in Taiyuan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $195 per month, with Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Taiyuan?
Taiyuan wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taiyuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Taiyuan?
On paper, Taiyuan earns 37% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Taiyuan?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $208 in Taiyuan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Taiyuan?
A monthly transit pass in Taiyuan runs roughly 17% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Taiyuan?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $417 in Taiyuan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Taiyuan?
At $629 in Taiyuan versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taiyuan but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Taiyuan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Taiyuan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Taiyuan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $629 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Taiyuan hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Taiyuan?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.