😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $714 in Al-mawsil.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,063 in Al-mawsil.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,412 in Al-mawsil.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 71% more expensive than Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Al-mawsil47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$7.48IQD 9,795
45.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$12.45IQD 16.3K
254.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$5.61IQD 7,350
47.59%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$0.74IQD 965
308.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.36IQD 473
111.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.18IQD 229
155.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$0.98IQD 1,288
128.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$1.55IQD 2,025
93.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$0.92IQD 1,206
109.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.73IQD 959
-1.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.10IQD 1,441
67.27%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.90IQD 2,482
28.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$7.24IQD 9,476
2.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$3.27IQD 4,287
98.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$7.26IQD 9,502
33.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$0.90IQD 1,177
33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$0.87IQD 1,136
79.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$0.80IQD 1,049
123.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$0.36IQD 476
519.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.38IQD 498
71.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$0.46IQD 602
47.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.52IQD 685
128.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.49IQD 647
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$2.02IQD 2,642
46.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$12.27IQD 16.1K
-40.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$1.38IQD 1,804
10.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$1.94IQD 2,536
15.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.39IQD 514
-7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$30.80IQD 40.3K
-52.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$2.19IQD 2,867
-31.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$2.02IQD 2,639
-63.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$3.26IQD 4,266
128.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$0.35IQD 458
225.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$15.3KIQD 20.0M
21.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$17.6KIQD 23.0M
15.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$102IQD 134.1K
-27.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$17.73IQD 23.2K
-33.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$27.00IQD 35.4K
-32.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$24.44IQD 32.0K
152.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$18.72IQD 24.5K
-11.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$11.16IQD 14.6K
-40.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$204IQD 267.1K
29.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$681IQD 891.8K
655.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$13.92IQD 18.2K
437.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$17.64IQD 23.1K
149.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$83.6IQD 109.5K
40.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$18.91IQD 24.8K
501.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$245IQD 320.9K
182.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$180IQD 236.1K
151.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$574IQD 752.2K
130.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$346IQD 453.1K
127.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Al-mawsil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$621IQD 813.8K
3.80%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Al-mawsil: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 4% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $148 per month, with Al-mawsil 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-mawsil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-mawsil cheaper than Tbilisi?
Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Al-mawsil?
Tbilisi pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Al-mawsil?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $204 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Al-mawsil?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Al-mawsil?
At $714 in Al-mawsil versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Al-mawsil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Al-mawsil more family-friendly?
For families, Al-mawsil 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-mawsil?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Al-mawsil 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-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.