Cost of Living Comparison Between Kukes and TbilisiCost of Living Comparison Between Kukes and Tbilisi
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $976 in Kukes versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,436 in Kukes versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Kukes versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Kukes costs roughly 19% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kukes27% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38ALL 765
$10.82₾28.39
-13.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.26ALL 3,038
$43.85₾115
-15.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.90ALL 563
$8.31₾21.80
-16.97%
Cappuccino
$1.86ALL 151
$2.97₾7.78
-37.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57ALL 128
$0.77₾2.01
103.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82ALL 67.0
$0.46₾1.20
78.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29ALL 187
$2.14₾5.63
7.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24ALL 264
$2.87₾7.52
12.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56ALL 127
$1.90₾4.99
-17.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85ALL 69.3
$0.71₾1.86
19.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02ALL 164
$1.91₾5.00
5.76%
Eggs
$3.04ALL 248
$2.48₾6.52
22.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.29ALL 757
$7.74₾20.29
20.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.21ALL 588
$6.18₾16.21
16.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.15ALL 664
$9.57₾25.12
-14.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15ALL 94.0
$1.17₾3.06
-1.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79ALL 146
$1.65₾4.34
8.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99ALL 80.4
$1.85₾4.84
-46.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39ALL 113
$2.33₾6.11
-40.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74ALL 60.1
$0.71₾1.85
4.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79ALL 64.3
$0.67₾1.76
17.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93ALL 75.8
$1.19₾3.12
-21.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72ALL 58.9
$0.66₾1.72
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.55ALL 290
$2.92₾7.65
21.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27ALL 593
$7.69₾20.18
-5.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91ALL 74.6
$1.59₾4.18
-42.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ALL 140
$2.31₾6.06
-25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALL 40.11
$0.38₾1.01
28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.63ALL 1,519
$14.76₾38.72
26.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59ALL 293
$1.50₾3.92
139.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.16ALL 257
$0.68₾1.77
364.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.63ALL 377
$7.26₾19.04
-36.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11ALL 172
$1.09₾2.87
93.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KALL 2.9M
$18.6K₾48.8K
87.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KALL 2.0M
$20.5K₾53.7K
21.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.8ALL 5,528
$73.0₾192
-7.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.32ALL 1,413
$11.97₾31.41
44.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.14ALL 1,316
$18.00₾47.22
-10.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9ALL 4,476
$61.0₾160
-9.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.12ALL 2,048
$16.52₾43.34
52.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.46ALL 282
$6.70₾17.58
-48.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.4ALL 7,776
$269₾705
-64.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,152₾13.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.24ALL 2,874
$76.5₾201
-53.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.28ALL 1,898
$43.41₾114
-46.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.26ALL 3,365
$120₾316
-65.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2ALL 4,091
$111₾290
-54.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442ALL 36.1K
$687₾1,803
-35.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346ALL 28.2K
$470₾1,234
-26.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$603ALL 49.1K
$1,353₾3,550
-55.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429ALL 35.0K
$789₾2,069
-45.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,835ALL 149.6K
$2,468₾6,473
-25.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,204ALL 98.2K
$1,456₾3,818
-17.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$520ALL 42.4K
$659₾1,729
-21.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.89
-66.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kukes: July 11, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Kukes and $687 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 27% 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: $37.00 in Kukes vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $205 per month, with Kukes 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
Kukes vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Kukes?
Kukes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kukes or Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kukes and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Kukes versus $687 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kukes runs roughly 26% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $95.4 in Kukes versus $269 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kukes or in Tbilisi?
At $976 in Kukes versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kukes but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kukes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kukes or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Kukes 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, Kukes or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Kukes 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 Kukes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.