🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $638 in Ba'qubah versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Ba'qubah versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,333 in Ba'qubah versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
🙂Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 46% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah52% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.03IQD 6,592
$11.15₾30.00
-54.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.37IQD 20.1K
$43.13₾116
-64.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.35IQD 8,317
$8.22₾22.11
-22.75%
Cappuccino
$1.13IQD 1,478
$3.13₾8.42
-63.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48IQD 628
$0.74₾2.00
-35.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 242
$0.45₾1.22
-60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93IQD 2,533
$2.13₾5.74
-9.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06IQD 2,697
$2.99₾8.06
-31.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13IQD 1,485
$1.89₾5.09
-40.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55IQD 725
$0.73₾1.97
-24.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,473
$1.85₾4.98
-39.46%
Eggs
$1.41IQD 1,851
$2.45₾6.58
-42.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.26IQD 2,963
$7.85₾21.12
-71.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.52IQD 3,297
$6.25₾16.82
-59.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77IQD 14.1K
$9.77₾26.28
10.24%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92IQD 1,201
$1.21₾3.26
-23.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,479
$1.59₾4.28
-28.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99IQD 1,291
$1.79₾4.81
-44.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60IQD 782
$2.32₾6.25
-74.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56IQD 728
$0.71₾1.91
-21.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69IQD 901
$0.67₾1.81
2.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47IQD 612
$1.18₾3.16
-60.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21IQD 281
$0.71₾1.92
-70.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71IQD 3,556
$2.92₾7.85
-7.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.24IQD 16.0K
$7.25₾19.50
68.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43IQD 1,873
$1.55₾4.17
-7.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03IQD 2,654
$2.31₾6.21
-12.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 522
$0.38₾1.03
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.61IQD 41.4K
$14.81₾39.83
113.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37IQD 3,099
$1.48₾3.98
60.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10IQD 2,750
$0.69₾1.86
204.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.32IQD 6,971
$7.45₾20.05
-28.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33IQD 427
$1.15₾3.10
-71.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KIQD 24.9M
$18.0K₾48.4K
5.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KIQD 27.4M
$19.8K₾53.4K
5.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.3IQD 77.7K
$73.4₾198
-19.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.97IQD 23.5K
$11.64₾31.32
54.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.11IQD 35.5K
$17.77₾47.79
52.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.94IQD 24.8K
$60.6₾163
-68.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.61IQD 21.8K
$16.44₾44.21
1.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.82IQD 4,998
$6.51₾17.52
-41.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$27.30IQD 35.8K
$263₾707
-89.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$632IQD 827.5K
$5,136₾13.8K
-87.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.99IQD 24.9K
$77.7₾209
-75.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.97IQD 24.9K
$44.39₾119
-57.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8IQD 109.8K
$118₾317
-28.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.25IQD 35.7K
$114₾307
-76.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244IQD 320.2K
$693₾1,865
-64.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182IQD 238.5K
$462₾1,244
-60.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$570IQD 746.1K
$1,337₾3,597
-57.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345IQD 451.4K
$779₾2,096
-55.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$768IQD 1.0M
$2,530₾6,805
-69.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$188IQD 246.6K
$1,430₾3,847
-86.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ba'qubah
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$730IQD 956.2K
$633₾1,702
15.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
11.89
-52.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ba'qubah: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Ba'qubah and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ba'qubah pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Ba'qubah vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $140 vs $206 per month, with Ba'qubah 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
Ba'qubah vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Ba'qubah?
Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ba'qubah or Tbilisi?
Ba'qubah pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ba'qubah and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Ba'qubah versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ba'qubah and Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ba'qubah or Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ba'qubah or Tbilisi?
At $638 in Ba'qubah versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ba'qubah but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ba'qubah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ba'qubah or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Ba'qubah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ba'qubah or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Ba'qubah 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ba'qubah vs other spots: cost of living compared