Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $1,247 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $2,025 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $2,803 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Erbil is about 12% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Tbilisi 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$11.33 ₾29.44

-32.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$38.71 ₾101

14.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$9.52 ₾24.72

-11.55%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$3.41 ₾8.85

12.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$1.04 ₾2.71

-0.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.64 ₾1.66

-31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$2.61 ₾6.79

131.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$3.24 ₾8.43

45.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$2.17 ₾5.65

-41.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.74 ₾1.92

12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.71 ₾4.45

-1.75%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$2.83 ₾7.36

-36.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$9.22 ₾23.95

-12.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$6.76 ₾17.55

-14.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$12.77 ₾33.17

16.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.64 ₾4.26

-31.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.77 ₾4.60

-37.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.87 ₾4.85

-34.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$2.44 ₾6.34

-66.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.87 ₾2.25

-19.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.65 ₾1.70

6.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$1.40 ₾3.64

-47.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.74 ₾1.93

-25.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$3.41 ₾8.86

-26.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$7.60 ₾19.75

65.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$1.70 ₾4.41

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.38 ₾6.20

-12.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.36 ₾0.94

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

$15.24 ₾39.60

187.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$1.18 ₾3.07

64.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$0.76 ₾1.97

139.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$11.34 ₾29.46

-42.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$1.33 ₾3.46

-49.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$24.7K ₾64.2K

-25.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$22.0K ₾57.2K

-8.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$128 IQD 167.0K

$88.9 ₾231

43.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$13.33 ₾34.63

4.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$20.12 ₾52.3

41.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$68.7 ₾178

-3.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

$18.09 ₾47.00

-19.18%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$6.72 ₾17.45

73.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 IQD 405.1K

$374 ₾971

-17.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$10.7K ₾27.8K

-70.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$101 ₾263

-69.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$39.33 ₾102

14.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$118 ₾305

-41.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$122 ₾318

-44.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$682 ₾1,773

-32.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$456 ₾1,186

-34.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$1,303 ₾3,384

-43.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

$899 ₾2,337

-51.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

$2,449 ₾6,364

-55.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

$1,452 ₾3,773

-54.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$652 ₾1,695

-5.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

12.62

-79.95%

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Erbil versus $682 in Tbilisi. 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 6% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Erbil versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Erbil vs $232 in Tbilisi – so Erbil 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

Erbil vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Erbil and $1,870 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Erbil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Erbil and $39.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Erbil. 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.