Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahabad and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Mahabad: $528 a month against $1,278 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Mahabad, Iran
Tbilisi, Georgia
Mahabad
🇮🇷 Iran
$528
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mahabad 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 Mahabad and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $528 per month in Mahabad vs $1,278 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Mahabad $528
  • Tbilisi $1,278

A couple spends around $831 per month in Mahabad vs $2,017 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Mahabad $831
  • Tbilisi $2,017

A family of three spends $1,135 per month in Mahabad vs $2,755 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Mahabad $1,135
  • Tbilisi $2,755

Mahabad is about 59% cheaper than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Mahabad and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Mahabad 61% lower, Tbilisi 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.92 $2.92
$11.62 ₾30.06
-74.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.31 $16.31
$38.41 ₾99.3
-57.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.99 $3.99
$9.74 ₾25.18
-59.03%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.73 $0.73
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.13 $1.13
$3.56 ₾9.21
-68.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.08 ₾2.79
-52.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.56 ₾1.46
76.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.73 ₾7.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.13 ₾8.08
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 $0.68
$2.14 ₾5.54
-68.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.75 ₾1.95
-32.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.80 ₾4.66
16.11%
Eggs
$1.24 $1.24
$2.80 ₾7.25
-55.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$9.43 ₾24.39
-52.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$7.00 ₾18.09
-52.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.85 $7.85
$12.69 ₾32.82
-38.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.63 ₾4.21
-36.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.84 ₾4.77
-13.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.97 ₾5.09
-56.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 $0.57
$2.47 ₾6.38
-76.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 $0.57
$0.75 ₾1.95
-24.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 $0.47
$0.67 ₾1.74
-29.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 $0.54
$1.41 ₾3.66
-61.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
$0.72 ₾1.86
-66.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.77 $0.77
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 $0.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 $1.34
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.51 ₾9.08
-29.91%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.89 ₾20.39
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70 ₾4.41
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37 ₾6.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 $0.14
$0.38 ₾0.98
-63.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.67 $9.67
$15.29 ₾39.54
-36.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 $0.44
$1.19 ₾3.08
-63.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.74 ₾1.91
-58.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 $2.63
$11.89 ₾30.75
-77.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.10 $0.10
$1.46 ₾3.77
-93.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.0K $50.0K
$25.0K ₾64.6K
100.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.4K $45.4K
$22.8K ₾59.0K
98.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.98 $12.98
$88.1 ₾228
-85.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.57 $1.57
$12.71 ₾32.85
-87.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.81 $3.81
$19.79 ₾51.2
-80.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.40 $18.40
$64.3 ₾166
-71.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.52 $13.52
$19.17 ₾49.57
-29.47%
Cinema Ticket
$2.04 $2.04
$6.65 ₾17.19
-69.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 $107
$371 ₾960
-71.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,442 $2,442
$9,163 ₾23.7K
-73.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.95 $22.95
$102 ₾264
-77.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.82 $27.82
$39.65 ₾103
-29.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 $98.5
$118 ₾305
-16.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7 $73.7
$120 ₾310
-38.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 $290
$690 ₾1,784
-57.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 $212
$461 ₾1,193
-54.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 $806
$1,362 ₾3,522
-40.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 $356
$897 ₾2,320
-60.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,134 $1,134
$2,277 ₾5,888
-50.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$541 $541
$1,378 ₾3,562
-60.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahabad
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$254 $254
$710 ₾1,836
-64.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
12.53
93.93%

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

Last update for Mahabad: October 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mahabad
$212
Tbilisi
$461 118% $249
Groceries & Markets
Mahabad
$108
Tbilisi
$235 119% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Mahabad
$100
Tbilisi
$171 70.3% $71
Eating Out
Mahabad
$55
Tbilisi
$191 249% $136
Sport & Entertainment
Mahabad
$22
Tbilisi
$78 245% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahabad
$18
Tbilisi
$121 557% $102
Getting Around
Mahabad
$12
Tbilisi
$22 77.6% $9.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Mahabad versus $690 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 in Tbilisi are about 2.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Mahabad versus $38 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $108 vs $235 – making Mahabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Mahabad
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
00:45 12:45 AM
01:15 1:15 AM
30 min ahead of Mahabad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
208,541
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mahabad Tbilisi 550 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mahabad
  • Tbilisi

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

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mahabad vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahabad cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 142%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Mahabad and $1,918 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahabad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $290 there versus $690 in Tbilisi.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Mahabad and $371 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mahabad and in Tbilisi?
Groceries cost about 118% more in Tbilisi, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mahabad or in Tbilisi?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahabad, where all-in costs run around $528, than in Tbilisi at $1,278. In Mahabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mahabad or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mahabad or Tbilisi?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahabad. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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