😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $677 in Al Kufah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,056 in Al Kufah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,434 in Al Kufah.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 77% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Al Kufah49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$5.24IQD 6,865
106.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$36.37IQD 47.6K
20.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$7.74IQD 10.1K
7.36%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.99IQD 3,919
-0.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.39IQD 515
97.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.21IQD 276
119.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$3.47IQD 4,539
-38.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.95IQD 3,858
-2.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.08IQD 1,416
75.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.61IQD 801
16.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.57IQD 2,058
21.66%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.73IQD 2,262
43.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$2.24IQD 2,932
245.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$2.93IQD 3,836
110.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$9.66IQD 12.6K
-0.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$0.52IQD 674
125.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$0.97IQD 1,267
70.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$0.73IQD 952
153.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$0.49IQD 645
375.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.38IQD 495
86.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$0.31IQD 402
116.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.68IQD 890
75.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.45IQD 587
46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$1.95IQD 2,555
49.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$13.76IQD 18.0K
-44.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.80IQD 2,355
-11.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.09IQD 2,733
10.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.35IQD 454
8.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
$30.86IQD 40.4K
-52.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$2.32IQD 3,036
-35.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.53IQD 2,005
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$7.75IQD 10.1K
-6.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.54IQD 704
101.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$20.0KIQD 26.1M
-6.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$20.2KIQD 26.4M
1.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$39.68IQD 52.0K
83.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$25.46IQD 33.3K
-52.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$22.60IQD 29.6K
-20.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$25.81IQD 33.8K
136.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$16.52IQD 21.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$7.46IQD 9,765
-10.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$86.1IQD 112.8K
212.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$2,377IQD 3.1M
116.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$20.91IQD 27.4K
265.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$29.43IQD 38.5K
47.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$19.98IQD 26.2K
502.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$27.57IQD 36.1K
301.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$213IQD 279.0K
222.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$181IQD 237.0K
159.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$427IQD 558.5K
217.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$296IQD 387.1K
166.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$1,335IQD 1.7M
84.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$380IQD 497.8K
282.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Al Kufah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$1,014IQD 1.3M
-35.01%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Al Kufah: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $213 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Kufah pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $36.00 in Al Kufah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $145 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 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Al Kufah?
On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Al Kufah. 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: $687 in Tbilisi versus $213 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 in Al Kufah?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Al Kufah?
All in, you'll spend $1,197 per month in Tbilisi versus $677 in Al Kufah – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Al Kufah?
At $677 in Al Kufah versus $1,197 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 77% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.