Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Xiamen Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Xiamen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $792 in Xiamen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,277 in Xiamen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,763 in Xiamen, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 54% more than Xiamen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Xiamen are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Xiamen 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$2.76 ¥18.63
293.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$23.19 ¥157
90.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$5.51 ¥37.28
50.27%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.82 ¥19.06
7.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.48 ¥3.25
58.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.31 ¥2.12
48.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$1.41 ¥9.50
58.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$3.46 ¥23.39
-13.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.87 ¥12.65
3.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$2.09 ¥14.16
-65.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$0.81 ¥5.50
127.16%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.39 ¥9.40
76.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$11.02 ¥74.5
-32.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$2.35 ¥15.89
175.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$11.16 ¥75.4
-13.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$2.46 ¥16.62
-51.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.38 ¥9.34
13.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.50 ¥10.15
19.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$1.86 ¥12.57
19.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.97 ¥6.54
-32.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$1.68 ¥11.37
-59.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.81 ¥5.50
46.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.52 ¥3.51
34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$2.74 ¥18.53
7.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$10.92 ¥73.8
-32.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$0.78 ¥5.29
94.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.65 ¥11.17
36.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.22 ¥1.49
63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$11.09 ¥75.0
31.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$1.41 ¥9.52
6.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.28 ¥1.90
160.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$6.66 ¥45.03
11.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.17 ¥7.91
-2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$16.6K ¥112.0K
11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$17.3K ¥117.2K
16.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$39.17 ¥265
88.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$10.06 ¥68.1
16.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$9.63 ¥65.1
88.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$44.79 ¥303
37.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$9.77 ¥66.1
70.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$9.64 ¥65.2
-31.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$454 ¥3,070
-41.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$22.7K ¥153.3K
-77.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$43.99 ¥297
70.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$27.55 ¥186
59.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$83.3 ¥563
41.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$78.6 ¥531
44.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$329 ¥2,227
110.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$252 ¥1,706
79.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$862 ¥5,828
53.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$505 ¥3,417
56.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$8,426 ¥57.0K
-71.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$4,749 ¥32.1K
-69.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Xiamen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$1,148 ¥7,763
-43.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
3.56
233.99%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Xiamen: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $329 in Xiamen. 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 78% higher in Xiamen, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $23.00 in Xiamen. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $207 in Xiamen – 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 Xiamen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Xiamen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $792 in Xiamen – roughly 54% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Xiamen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,189 in Xiamen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Xiamen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Xiamen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $23.00 in Xiamen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Xiamen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $792 in Xiamen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Xiamen, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Xiamen 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 Xiamen?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $792 in Xiamen to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Xiamen 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 Xiamen?
If budget matters most, go with Xiamen. 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.

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