🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $3,146 in Ashgabat.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $4,862 in Ashgabat.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $6,579 in Ashgabat.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 61% less than in Ashgabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Ashgabat is 134% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$35.27TMT 118
-69.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$86.5TMT 291
-48.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$14.14TMT 47.53
-41.44%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$7.18TMT 24.11
-57.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$3.22TMT 10.82
-76.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.89TMT 2.99
-48.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$5.26TMT 17.68
-57.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$14.30TMT 48.06
-79.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$4.81TMT 16.17
-59.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$2.41TMT 8.11
-70.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$7.28TMT 24.45
-74.73%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$6.01TMT 20.19
-59.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$39.33TMT 132
-81.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$18.50TMT 62.2
-64.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$18.86TMT 63.4
-48.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$5.49TMT 18.46
-78.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$9.09TMT 30.54
-82.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$7.79TMT 26.18
-77.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$3.63TMT 12.19
-38.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$2.33TMT 7.83
-72.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.82TMT 6.13
-62.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$2.05TMT 6.90
-41.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$1.12TMT 3.76
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$25.97TMT 87.3
-88.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$41.39TMT 139
-82.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$4.65TMT 15.62
-67.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$2.89TMT 9.71
-22.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.14TMT 0.45
157.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$8.66TMT 29.09
68.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$2.82TMT 9.49
-46.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.81TMT 2.73
-9.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$8.67TMT 29.14
-14.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$0.41TMT 1.38
178.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$43.3KTMT 145.5K
-57.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$56.3KTMT 189.3K
-64.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$569TMT 1,913
-87.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$58.1TMT 195
-79.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$101TMT 340
-82.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$198TMT 667
-68.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$44.60TMT 150
-62.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$14.56TMT 48.91
-54.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$22.76TMT 76.5
1060.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$25.7KTMT 86.2K
-79.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$66.4TMT 223
12.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$121TMT 407
-63.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$305TMT 1,025
-61.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$186TMT 626
-38.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$1,143TMT 3,839
-39.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$747TMT 2,509
-39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$1,792TMT 6,021
-26.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$1,583TMT 5,317
-50.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$3,528TMT 11.9K
-31.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$2,850TMT 9,575
-49.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ashgabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$761TMT 2,557
-15.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.5
25.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Ashgabat: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $1,143 in Ashgabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashgabat pays 18% 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 $87.0 in Ashgabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $668 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Ashgabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Ashgabat?
Tbilisi and Ashgabat differ by about 158% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $3,146 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Ashgabat earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Ashgabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $1,143 in Ashgabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Ashgabat?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $22.76 in Ashgabat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 227% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $3,146 in Ashgabat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Ashgabat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Ashgabat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ashgabat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Ashgabat?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.