Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and As Samawah

For one person, living is cheaper in As Samawah: $644 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
As Samawah
🇮🇶 Iraq
$644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in As Samawah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in As Samawah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Tbilisi versus $644 in As Samawah.

  • Tbilisi $1,266
  • As Samawah $644

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Tbilisi versus $1,050 in As Samawah.

  • Tbilisi $2,007
  • As Samawah $1,050

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,749 in Tbilisi versus $1,456 in As Samawah.

  • Tbilisi $2,749
  • As Samawah $1,456

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 97% more expensive than in As Samawah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, As Samawah 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 ₾29.35
$4.36 IQD 6,593
160.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.05 ₾101
$29.34 IQD 44.3K
33.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 ₾24.92
$6.51 IQD 9,844
47.93%
Cappuccino
$3.46 ₾8.95
$2.79 IQD 4,215
24.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.82
$0.31 IQD 474
251.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.62
$0.16 IQD 237
293.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 ₾7.17
$3.21 IQD 4,850
-13.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.04
$3.39 IQD 5,118
-8.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ₾5.81
$0.94 IQD 1,422
139.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$0.63 IQD 959
26.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₾4.55
$1.35 IQD 2,046
30.37%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.11
$1.56 IQD 2,356
76.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 ₾24.32
$1.29 IQD 1,953
627.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 ₾17.23
$4.21 IQD 6,360
58.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 ₾33.45
$11.93 IQD 18.0K
8.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$0.97 IQD 1,464
72.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.65
$0.98 IQD 1,482
83.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₾4.97
$0.83 IQD 1,251
131.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₾6.24
$0.42 IQD 640
473.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₾2.23
$0.51 IQD 776
68.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$0.55 IQD 836
25.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$0.55 IQD 826
154.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.62 IQD 939
14.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$1.69 IQD 2,552
107.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾19.69
$6.42 IQD 9,703
18.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$1.89 IQD 2,858
-13.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾5.98
$1.90 IQD 2,875
21.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.47 IQD 709
-21.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.67 ₾40.57
$19.97 IQD 30.2K
-21.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$2.03 IQD 3,070
-43.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$1.35 IQD 2,034
-41.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.86 ₾30.70
$2.72 IQD 4,106
336.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$0.57 IQD 862
145.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.2K
$16.5K IQD 25.0M
49.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ₾56.6K
$16.7K IQD 25.2M
30.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾231
$71.3 IQD 107.8K
24.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.21 ₾34.19
$16.32 IQD 24.7K
-19.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.76 ₾51.1
$16.39 IQD 24.8K
20.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 ₾168
$36.23 IQD 54.7K
79.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 ₾49.24
$16.66 IQD 25.2K
14.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 ₾17.02
$7.97 IQD 12.0K
-17.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾975
$50.2 IQD 75.9K
649.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾27.9K
$1,315 IQD 2.0M
721.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$24.56 IQD 37.1K
316.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 ₾103
$27.74 IQD 41.9K
43.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$58.2 IQD 88.0K
102.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$41.02 IQD 62.0K
200.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 ₾1,724
$175 IQD 264.3K
280.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₾1,163
$133 IQD 201.6K
236.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,324
$168 IQD 254.3K
663.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,303
$308 IQD 465.6K
188.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,425 ₾6,276
$794 IQD 1.2M
205.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,380 ₾3,573
$623 IQD 942.0K
121.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
As Samawah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$680 ₾1,760
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
4.12
206.31%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$449
As Samawah
$133 70.3% $316
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
As Samawah
$143 38.9% $91
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$188
As Samawah
$113 40.1% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
As Samawah
$68 60.4% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
As Samawah
$104 14.8% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
As Samawah
$52 33.2% $26
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
As Samawah
$31 37.5% $8.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Tbilisi and $175 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $29.00 in As Samawah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $143 per month, with As Samawah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇮🇶 As Samawah
🕒 Local time
20:40 8:40 PM
19:40 7:40 PM
1 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
250,000
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi As Samawah 1,160 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • As Samawah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is As Samawah cheaper than Tbilisi?
As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 97% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Tbilisi and $966 in As Samawah 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 As Samawah?
Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Tbilisi versus $175 in As Samawah. 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 As Samawah runs roughly 27% 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 $377 in Tbilisi versus $50.2 in As Samawah. 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 As Samawah?
At $644 in As Samawah versus $1,266 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or As Samawah more family-friendly?
For families, As Samawah 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 As Samawah?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and As Samawah 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 As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?