😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $588 in Ardabil.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $936 in Ardabil.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,284 in Ardabil.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 104% more expensive than in Ardabil, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Ardabil56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$5.45$5.45
98.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$16.74$16.74
161.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$5.96$5.96
39.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.46$1.46
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.06$1.06
-
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.44$1.44
106.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.42$0.42
83.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.52$0.52
-11.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$0.73$0.73
160.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.54$0.54
31.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$2.96$2.96
-35.47%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.11$1.11
123.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$5.93$5.93
30.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$3.15$3.15
96.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$9.94$9.94
-3.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.80$1.80
-35.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.56$1.56
5.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.94$1.94
-4.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.02$1.02
128.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.08$1.08
-34.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$0.72$0.72
-6.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.24$1.24
-4.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.23$0.23
186.96%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.63$0.63
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.64$0.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.36$1.36
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$1.27$1.27
129.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.22$0.22
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$10.20$10.20
44.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.34$0.34
341.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.29$0.29
134.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$1.99$1.99
264.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.72$0.72
51.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$71.2K$71.2K
-73.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$55.6K$55.6K
-63.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$15.96$15.96
357.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$2.05$2.05
483.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$5.93$5.93
203.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$22.90$22.90
166.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$12.39$12.39
33.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$1.47$1.47
355.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$114$114
135.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$1,948$1,948
164.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$40.13$40.13
90.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$22.34$22.34
94.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$112$112
7.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$70.6$70.6
56.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$345$345
99.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$200$200
135.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$703$703
92.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$317$317
148.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$1,182$1,182
108.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$514$514
183.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ardabil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
22.24
-46.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ardabil: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $345 in Ardabil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $17.00 in Ardabil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $136 per month, with Ardabil 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 Ardabil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ardabil cheaper than Tbilisi?
Ardabil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,796 in Tbilisi and $882 in Ardabil 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.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Ardabil?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $345 in Ardabil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ardabil runs roughly 45% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $114 in Ardabil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Ardabil?
At $588 in Ardabil versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ardabil but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ardabil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Ardabil more family-friendly?
For families, Ardabil 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 Ardabil?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ardabil 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 Ardabil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.