🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $851 in Mashhad versus $1,191 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,277 in Mashhad versus $1,856 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,702 in Mashhad versus $2,522 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Mashhad costs roughly 29% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad36% lower, Tbilisi11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.25IQD 6,877
$10.91₾28.55
-51.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.62IQD 48.0K
$43.19₾113
-15.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.71IQD 10.1K
$8.53₾22.30
-9.61%
Cappuccino
$3.05IQD 3,998
$2.99₾7.81
2.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 482
$0.81₾2.12
-54.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 286
$0.42₾1.09
-47.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37IQD 4,410
$2.16₾5.65
56.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94IQD 3,853
$2.88₾7.52
2.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31IQD 1,715
$1.94₾5.07
-32.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84IQD 1,094
$0.68₾1.77
23.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57IQD 2,058
$1.85₾4.83
-15.14%
Eggs
$0.80IQD 1,045
$2.53₾6.62
-68.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.59IQD 6,007
$7.53₾19.69
-39.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.02IQD 2,646
$6.26₾16.39
-67.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.01IQD 3,943
$9.59₾25.09
-68.61%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99IQD 1,291
$1.16₾3.04
-14.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17IQD 1,531
$1.64₾4.29
-28.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97IQD 1,275
$1.88₾4.93
-48.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68IQD 894
$2.23₾5.84
-69.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 908
$0.70₾1.83
-1.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63IQD 831
$0.64₾1.68
-1.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.29IQD 374
$1.18₾3.09
-75.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 262
$0.70₾1.83
-71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.82IQD 1,078
$2.97₾7.78
-72.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.49IQD 17.7K
$7.43₾19.45
81.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78IQD 2,335
$1.54₾4.03
15.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07IQD 2,716
$2.28₾5.98
-9.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 473
$0.36₾0.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.31IQD 41.0K
$14.73₾38.53
112.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.81IQD 4,988
$1.42₾3.71
168.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50IQD 1,960
$0.69₾1.80
117.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.55IQD 9,884
$7.27₾19.01
3.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 742
$1.09₾2.86
-47.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KIQD 26.7M
$18.3K₾47.9K
11.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KIQD 26.1M
$20.5K₾53.6K
-2.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177IQD 231.6K
$74.4₾194
137.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.28IQD 34.4K
$11.71₾30.62
124.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.96IQD 53.6K
$17.60₾46.05
132.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.46IQD 47.7K
$60.3₾158
-39.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.72IQD 21.9K
$16.29₾42.62
2.64%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43IQD 9,735
$6.51₾17.02
14.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165IQD 215.8K
$269₾704
-38.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,559IQD 4.7M
$5,154₾13.5K
-30.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.68IQD 37.6K
$77.1₾202
-62.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31IQD 39.7K
$43.48₾114
-30.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.7IQD 84.7K
$118₾310
-45.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.57IQD 57.1K
$113₾295
-61.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242IQD 316.9K
$709₾1,856
-65.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182IQD 238.0K
$465₾1,215
-60.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573IQD 750.4K
$1,316₾3,441
-56.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349IQD 457.0K
$767₾2,006
-54.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,492₾6,520
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,442₾3,772
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$663₾1,734
-
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 Mashhad: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Mashhad and $709 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Mashhad vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $204 per month, with Mashhad 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
Mashhad vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mashhad and in Tbilisi?
Mashhad and Tbilisi differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($851 vs $1,191 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mashhad compared to Tbilisi?
You'd need roughly $1,277 in Mashhad and $1,787 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mashhad and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Mashhad versus $709 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mashhad and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $165 in Mashhad versus $269 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $851 in Mashhad versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mashhad and 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.
Is Mashhad or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mashhad 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.
Where should expats move: Mashhad or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.