😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,448 in Ashgabat versus $1,247 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,119 in Ashgabat versus $2,025 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,790 in Ashgabat versus $2,803 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Ashgabat is roughly 177% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 152% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.00TMT 107
$11.33₾29.45
182.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9TMT 288
$38.71₾101
122.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.70TMT 42.55
$9.52₾24.73
33.40%
Cappuccino
$6.99TMT 23.41
$3.41₾8.85
104.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56TMT 5.22
$1.04₾2.71
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83TMT 2.79
$0.64₾1.66
29.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54TMT 18.56
$2.61₾6.79
112.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.38TMT 44.83
$3.24₾8.43
312.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.40TMT 14.73
$2.17₾5.65
102.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08TMT 6.97
$0.74₾1.92
181.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.99TMT 20.06
$1.71₾4.45
250.29%
Eggs
$5.90TMT 19.78
$2.83₾7.36
108.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$38.28TMT 128
$9.22₾23.95
315.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.69TMT 66.0
$6.76₾17.55
191.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.82TMT 76.5
$12.77₾33.17
78.70%
Apples(1kg)
$5.14TMT 17.23
$1.64₾4.26
213.41%
Banana(1kg)
$8.64TMT 28.94
$1.77₾4.60
388.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.49TMT 25.08
$1.87₾4.85
300.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.79TMT 12.70
$2.44₾6.34
55.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34TMT 7.85
$0.87₾2.25
168.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44TMT 4.83
$0.65₾1.70
121.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75TMT 9.21
$1.40₾3.64
96.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13TMT 3.78
$0.74₾1.93
52.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.85TMT 86.6
$3.41₾8.86
658.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.91TMT 140
$7.60₾19.75
451.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.06TMT 16.96
$1.70₾4.41
197.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89TMT 9.69
$2.38₾6.20
21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14TMT 0.46
$0.36₾0.94
-61.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.13TMT 33.94
$15.24₾39.60
-33.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84TMT 9.51
$1.18₾3.07
140.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89TMT 2.99
$0.76₾1.97
17.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.54TMT 28.62
$11.34₾29.47
-24.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.41TMT 1.38
$1.33₾3.46
-69.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7KTMT 146.3K
$24.7K₾64.2K
76.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.1KTMT 187.9K
$22.0K₾57.2K
154.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$578TMT 1,937
$88.9₾231
550.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.6TMT 190
$13.33₾34.63
324.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101TMT 339
$20.12₾52.3
402.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$192TMT 643
$68.7₾178
179.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.06TMT 151
$18.09₾47.01
149.09%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32TMT 27.89
$6.72₾17.46
23.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$22.71TMT 76.1
$374₾971
-93.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.4KTMT 81.8K
$10.7K₾27.8K
128.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1TMT 185
$101₾263
-45.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$115TMT 385
$39.33₾102
192.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$358TMT 1,200
$118₾305
204.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196TMT 657
$122₾318
60.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,140TMT 3,817
$682₾1,773
67.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$992TMT 3,322
$456₾1,186
117.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,256TMT 7,557
$1,303₾3,385
73.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942TMT 6,506
$899₾2,337
115.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617TMT 12.1K
$2,449₾6,365
47.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,838TMT 9,506
$1,452₾3,774
95.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$743TMT 2,488
$652₾1,695
13.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
12.62
-24.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashgabat: September 15, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,140 in Ashgabat and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashgabat pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Ashgabat vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $670 vs $232 per month, with Tbilisi 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
Ashgabat vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ashgabat and in Tbilisi?
Ashgabat and Tbilisi differ by about 177% in total monthly costs ($3,448 vs $1,247 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ashgabat or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 14% higher in Ashgabat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ashgabat and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,140 in Ashgabat versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ashgabat and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $22.71 in Ashgabat versus $374 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 188% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $3,448 in Ashgabat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ashgabat and Tbilisi?
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.
Is Ashgabat or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ashgabat and Tbilisi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ashgabat or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.