😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $656 in Al Kufah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,043 in Al Kufah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,429 in Al Kufah.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 84% more expensive than Al Kufah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Al Kufah51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$5.45IQD 7,142
98.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$36.32IQD 47.6K
18.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$7.50IQD 9,815
10.53%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$3.05IQD 3,990
-1.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.39IQD 517
110.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.20IQD 266
130.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$3.34IQD 4,375
-33.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.83IQD 3,711
3.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.11IQD 1,454
73.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.66IQD 861
3.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.63IQD 2,135
15.34%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$1.74IQD 2,283
45.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$2.24IQD 2,934
231.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$3.08IQD 4,038
100.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$10.18IQD 13.3K
-8.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$0.52IQD 683
134.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$0.92IQD 1,209
80.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$0.71IQD 933
153.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$0.49IQD 646
357.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.40IQD 527
77.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.31IQD 401
116.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.68IQD 884
73.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.42IQD 545
57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$1.96IQD 2,566
52.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$13.80IQD 18.1K
-44.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.82IQD 2,388
-15.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$2.12IQD 2,771
6.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.37IQD 488
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$31.06IQD 40.7K
-53.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$2.34IQD 3,068
-36.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$1.53IQD 2,004
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$7.71IQD 10.1K
-6.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.54IQD 704
111.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$20.0KIQD 26.2M
-7.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$19.6KIQD 25.7M
1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$40.32IQD 52.8K
82.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$26.29IQD 34.4K
-55.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$22.61IQD 29.6K
-21.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$25.46IQD 33.3K
136.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$16.55IQD 21.7K
1.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$7.43IQD 9,724
-11.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$87.4IQD 114.4K
204.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$2,386IQD 3.1M
117.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$21.39IQD 28.0K
263.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$30.55IQD 40.0K
46.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$19.88IQD 26.0K
487.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$27.88IQD 36.5K
304.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$210IQD 275.6K
229.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$181IQD 237.0K
155.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$424IQD 555.4K
211.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$290IQD 379.6K
167.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$3,193IQD 4.2M
-23.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$1,688IQD 2.2M
-14.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$776IQD 1.0M
-13.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.67
109.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Al Kufah: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $210 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Kufah pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $36.00 in Al Kufah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $148 per month, with Al Kufah 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
Tbilisi vs Al Kufah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Kufah cheaper than Tbilisi?
Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Al Kufah?
On paper, Al Kufah earns 15% less. 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 Tbilisi and Al Kufah?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $210 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Al Kufah?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Al Kufah?
All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $656 in Al Kufah – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Al Kufah?
At $656 in Al Kufah versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Al Kufah more family-friendly?
For families, Al Kufah 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, Tbilisi or Al Kufah?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Al Kufah 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 Al Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.