Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Taupo

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,278 a month against $2,117 in Taupo, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Taupo, New Zealand
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Taupo
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,117
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Taupo

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 Taupo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Tbilisi versus $2,117 in Taupo.

  • Tbilisi $1,278
  • Taupo $2,117

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Tbilisi versus $3,116 in Taupo.

  • Tbilisi $2,017
  • Taupo $3,116

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,755 in Tbilisi versus $4,115 in Taupo.

  • Tbilisi $2,755
  • Taupo $4,115

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 40% less than in Taupo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 5% below, Taupo is 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 ₾30.07
$14.09 NZ$25.04
-17.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.41 ₾99.4
$69.4 NZ$123
-44.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.20
$9.01 NZ$16.00
8.10%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ₾9.21
$3.48 NZ$6.17
2.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.80
$1.98 NZ$3.52
-45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.46
$1.83 NZ$3.24
-69.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 ₾7.05
$6.97 NZ$12.37
-60.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₾8.09
$6.98 NZ$12.41
-55.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₾5.55
$1.93 NZ$3.43
10.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$2.25 NZ$3.99
-66.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$1.84 NZ$3.26
-2.17%
Eggs
$2.80 ₾7.25
$6.30 NZ$11.20
-55.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 ₾24.41
$8.49 NZ$15.08
11.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.00 ₾18.10
$9.99 NZ$17.75
-29.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ₾32.83
$17.15 NZ$30.47
-26.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ₾4.22
$2.84 NZ$5.04
-42.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.77
$2.07 NZ$3.68
-11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.09
$3.03 NZ$5.39
-34.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₾6.39
$5.89 NZ$10.46
-58.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$2.19 NZ$3.89
-65.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.74
$1.53 NZ$2.73
-56.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₾3.66
$2.04 NZ$3.63
-30.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.86
$1.06 NZ$1.88
-32.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$27.30 NZ$48.50
-87.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₾20.40
$10.45 NZ$18.56
-24.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$2.74 NZ$4.87
-37.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₾6.12
$3.38 NZ$6.01
-29.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾0.98
$1.98 NZ$3.51
-80.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₾39.56
$105 NZ$186
-85.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$2.32 NZ$4.12
-48.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$2.02 NZ$3.58
-63.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.89 ₾30.76
$32.59 NZ$57.9
-63.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₾3.77
$1.84 NZ$3.26
-20.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾64.6K
$27.8K NZ$49.3K
-9.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₾59.1K
$22.3K NZ$39.5K
2.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₾228
$185 NZ$329
-52.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ₾32.87
$26.72 NZ$47.47
-52.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79 ₾51.2
$39.15 NZ$69.6
-49.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 ₾166
$39.41 NZ$70.0
63.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.17 ₾49.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 ₾17.20
$12.17 NZ$21.62
-45.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₾961
$1,045 NZ$1,857
-64.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,163 ₾23.7K
$19.3K NZ$34.3K
-52.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾264
$80.0 NZ$142
27.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 ₾103
$41.48 NZ$73.7
-4.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾306
$94.1 NZ$167
25.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾310
$112 NZ$199
6.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₾1,784
$1,029 NZ$1,828
-32.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,193
$943 NZ$1,675
-51.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 ₾3,523
$1,612 NZ$2,864
-15.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 ₾2,321
$1,494 NZ$2,654
-39.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₾5,891
$4,774 NZ$8,481
-52.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₾3,564
$3,373 NZ$5,992
-59.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Taupo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$710 ₾1,836
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.53
5.37
133.33%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Taupo: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$461
Taupo
$943 104% $482
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$235
Taupo
$341 45.2% $106
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Taupo
$245 28.3% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Taupo
$147 13.7% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Taupo
$251 108% $131
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Taupo
$64 17.8% $14
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Taupo
$125 476% $103

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $690 in Tbilisi and $1,029 in Taupo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38 in Tbilisi vs $69 in Taupo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $341 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇳🇿 Taupo
🕒 Local time
18:55 6:55 PM
03:55 3:55 AM
9 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
26,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.345 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.502 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Taupo 15,920 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Taupo

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 Taupo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Taupo?
Tbilisi is about 40% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,918 in Tbilisi and $3,175 in Taupo 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.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Taupo?
Rent for a central apartment: $690 in Tbilisi versus $1,029 in Taupo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Taupo?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $38 versus $69 in Taupo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Taupo?
All in, you’ll spend $1,278 per month in Tbilisi versus $2,117 in Taupo – Tbilisi is about 40% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Taupo?
At $1,278 in Tbilisi versus $2,117 in Taupo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Taupo. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Tbilisi or in Taupo?
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.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Taupo?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Taupo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Taupo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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