Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,387 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,033 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,151 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,787 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,914 in Almaty, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 8% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Tbilisi sits 7% below the global median, while Almaty is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68 ₾30.42
$12.78 ₸5,840
-8.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.79 ₾98.4
$45.00 ₸20.6K
-16.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.34 ₾24.31
$8.79 ₸4,017
6.26%
Cappuccino
$3.45 ₾9.00
$3.16 ₸1,444
9.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.84
$1.27 ₸581
-14.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₾1.55
$0.89 ₸409
-33.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 ₾7.35
$2.65 ₸1,211
6.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ₾9.71
$3.89 ₸1,776
-4.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ₾5.71
$1.71 ₸783
28.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.80 ₸368
-7.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.29
$2.09 ₸956
-21.05%
Eggs
$2.76 ₾7.20
$2.31 ₸1,054
19.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 ₾25.09
$11.79 ₸5,389
-18.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 ₾17.94
$6.84 ₸3,126
0.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 ₾34.23
$10.69 ₸4,884
23.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.46
$1.85 ₸846
-7.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.49
$2.28 ₸1,043
-24.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.87
$2.83 ₸1,292
-33.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ₾6.49
$2.66 ₸1,218
-6.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ₾2.11
$0.71 ₸326
14.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.54 ₸247
22.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$1.60 ₸733
-13.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₾1.94
$0.99 ₸451
-24.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.75
$2.62 ₸1,196
28.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.81 ₾20.34
$10.82 ₸4,944
-27.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₾4.34
$1.17 ₸534
42.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₾6.10
$2.21 ₸1,012
5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.27 ₸124
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.56 ₾40.52
$21.69 ₸9,912
-28.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.97
$1.35 ₸615
-15.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$0.68 ₸309
14.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.51 ₾29.97
$10.65 ₸4,865
8.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$0.69 ₸317
92.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.7K
$26.4K ₸12.1M
-5.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ₾57.8K
$30.1K ₸13.8M
-26.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 ₾235
$89.3 ₸40.8K
1.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.19 ₾34.35
$10.58 ₸4,837
24.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73 ₾51.4
$16.64 ₸7,607
18.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.3 ₾173
$74.9 ₸34.2K
-11.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.64 ₾51.1
$29.59 ₸13.5K
-33.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾17.53
$6.61 ₸3,022
1.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$356 ₾928
$436 ₸199.3K
-18.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.6K
$11.7K ₸5.4M
-9.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$93.4 ₸42.7K
8.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62 ₾103
$44.21 ₸20.2K
-10.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$132 ₸60.5K
-13.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾314
$128 ₸58.7K
-6.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,830
$794 ₸362.7K
-11.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,173
$526 ₸240.4K
-14.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 ₾3,321
$1,399 ₸639.3K
-8.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 ₾2,320
$930 ₸424.8K
-4.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,587
$2,529 ₸1.2M
0.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,466 ₾3,818
$1,437 ₸657.0K
2.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$651 ₾1,696
$852 ₸389.2K
-23.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
20.57
-38.11%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 16, 2026

Last update for Almaty: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Tbilisi versus $794 in Almaty. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Almaty, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $245 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $2,081 in Almaty. 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 Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $45.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $1,387 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Almaty?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Almaty at $1,387. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Almaty?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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