Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kukes and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kukes: $750 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kukes, Albania
Tbilisi, Georgia
Kukes
🇦🇱 Albania
$750
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kukes and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kukes and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $750 in Kukes versus $1,269 in Tbilisi.

  • Kukes $750
  • Tbilisi $1,269

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,115 in Kukes versus $2,016 in Tbilisi.

  • Kukes $1,115
  • Tbilisi $2,016

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,480 in Kukes versus $2,763 in Tbilisi.

  • Kukes $1,480
  • Tbilisi $2,763

Living in Kukes costs roughly 41% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kukes 45% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63 ALL 293
$11.63 ₾30.07
-68.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.06 ALL 1,782
$37.83 ₾97.8
-41.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.57 ALL 612
$9.66 ₾24.98
-21.64%
Cappuccino
$1.49 ALL 121
$3.57 ₾9.24
-58.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ALL 113
$1.08 ₾2.78
29.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ALL 51.5
$0.56 ₾1.45
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 ALL 153
$2.62 ₾6.78
-27.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ALL 182
$3.04 ₾7.85
-25.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 ALL 128
$2.17 ₾5.60
-26.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 ALL 63.0
$0.80 ₾2.06
-2.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 ALL 170
$1.74 ₾4.51
20.69%
Eggs
$2.72 ALL 220
$2.83 ₾7.31
-3.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.23 ALL 745
$9.31 ₾24.07
-0.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.39 ALL 597
$6.52 ₾16.85
13.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 ALL 847
$12.95 ₾33.50
-19.00%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 ALL 79.0
$1.68 ₾4.34
-41.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 ALL 154
$1.85 ₾4.79
3.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 ALL 76.4
$1.97 ₾5.10
-51.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ALL 129
$2.42 ₾6.25
-34.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ALL 62.3
$0.82 ₾2.11
-6.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 ALL 82.3
$0.74 ₾1.91
37.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ALL 87.3
$1.34 ₾3.47
-19.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ALL 56.6
$0.77 ₾2.00
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ALL 356
$3.57 ₾9.24
23.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.51 ALL 607
$7.67 ₾19.83
-2.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ALL 88.0
$1.70 ₾4.39
-35.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ALL 132
$2.40 ₾6.21
-31.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 ALL 40.72
$0.40 ₾1.05
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.35 ALL 1,563
$15.23 ₾39.38
27.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 ALL 307
$1.14 ₾2.95
233.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.80 ALL 307
$0.78 ₾2.02
387.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 ALL 396
$11.83 ₾30.58
-58.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 ALL 182
$1.45 ₾3.75
55.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K ALL 2.7M
$24.6K ₾63.6K
37.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ALL 2.0M
$22.3K ₾57.8K
11.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.4 ALL 4,962
$88.8 ₾230
-30.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.50 ALL 1,332
$13.12 ₾33.93
25.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.09 ALL 1,380
$19.67 ₾50.9
-13.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 ALL 4,640
$64.1 ₾166
-10.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40 ALL 1,002
$19.04 ₾49.24
-34.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62 ALL 292
$7.12 ₾18.42
-49.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.3 ALL 8,022
$375 ₾971
-73.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.5K ₾27.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.24 ALL 3,008
$104 ₾268
-64.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.06 ALL 2,267
$39.26 ₾102
-28.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.2 ALL 4,055
$117 ₾303
-57.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.89 ALL 3,626
$122 ₾315
-63.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 ALL 18.9K
$695 ₾1,798
-66.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ALL 14.1K
$451 ₾1,167
-61.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 ALL 22.7K
$1,355 ₾3,504
-79.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 ALL 16.7K
$906 ₾2,343
-77.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,941 ALL 156.8K
$2,295 ₾5,934
-15.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,312 ALL 106.0K
$1,345 ₾3,478
-2.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kukes
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$544 ALL 43.9K
$664 ₾1,718
-18.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
12.62
-60.38%

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

Last update for Kukes: October 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kukes
$208
Tbilisi
$234 12.5% $26
Accommodation & Living
Kukes
$175
Tbilisi
$451 159% $277
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
$95
Tbilisi
$122 27.9% $27
Eating Out
Kukes
$92
Tbilisi
$191 108% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
$72
Tbilisi
$172 138% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
$65
Tbilisi
$78 21% $14
Getting Around
Kukes
$44
Tbilisi
$22 50.4% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Kukes and $695 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 22% 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: $22 in Kukes vs $38 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $234 per month, with Kukes cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇱 Kukes
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
21:22 9:22 PM
00:22 12:22 AM
3 h ahead of Kukes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,985
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to ALL – Albanian Lek Converter

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.77 ALL (100 ALL = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.91 ALL (100 ALL = 1.11 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.88 GEL (1 GEL = 0.347 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kukes Tbilisi 2,010 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kukes
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kukes cheaper than Tbilisi?
Kukes is about 41% cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kukes or Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Kukes. 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: $235 in Kukes versus $695 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 Tbilisi runs roughly 21% less than in Kukes. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $99 in Kukes versus $375 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Kukes or in Tbilisi?
At $750 in Kukes versus $1,269 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 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 it better to live in Kukes or in 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Kukes wins on affordability, Tbilisi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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