Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Caranavi Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Caranavi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,094 in Caranavi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,491 in Caranavi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,887 in Caranavi.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 8% more expensive than Caranavi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Caranavi 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$2.49 BOB 17.25
347.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$7.43 BOB 51.4
10.63%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$3.30 BOB 22.81
-5.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$0.76 BOB 5.25
-2.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.49 BOB 3.42
-8.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$1.41 BOB 9.77
51.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$3.30 BOB 22.84
-9.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.47 BOB 10.20
-50.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$2.84 BOB 19.67
-34.86%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$0.88 BOB 6.12
178.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$1.87 BOB 12.95
234.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$5.92 BOB 40.95
65.03%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$3.29 BOB 22.77
-63.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.76 BOB 12.18
-9.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.42 BOB 9.85
26.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$1.15 BOB 7.93
101.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.06 BOB 7.33
-33.02%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.76 BOB 5.24
-11.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$1.05 BOB 7.26
-32.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$3.21 BOB 22.25
-9.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$2.21 BOB 15.31
-29.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$4.40 BOB 30.44
-47.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$0.53 BOB 3.68
-28.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$14.23 BOB 98.5
4.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$1.43 BOB 9.92
3.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.76 BOB 12.16
-60.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$14.71 BOB 102
-49.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$14.6K BOB 101.2K
23.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$99.6 BOB 690
-26.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$65.4 BOB 452
-72.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$14.36 BOB 99.4
321.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$21.79 BOB 151
-24.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$6.50 BOB 45.01
0.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$147 BOB 1,015
79.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$2,871 BOB 19.9K
78.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$30.99 BOB 214
43.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$50.0 BOB 346
135.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$73.4 BOB 508
55.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$879 BOB 6,079
-21.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$571 BOB 3,948
-18.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,176 BOB 8,141
13.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$978 BOB 6,766
-20.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$361 BOB 2,498
75.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
0
-

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Caranavi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $879 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Caranavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caranavi cheaper than Tbilisi?
Caranavi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Caranavi?
Tbilisi pays 75% 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 Caranavi?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $879 in Caranavi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Caranavi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Caranavi?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,094 in Caranavi – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Caranavi?
At $1,094 in Caranavi versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Caranavi but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Caranavi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Caranavi more family-friendly?
For families, Caranavi 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 Caranavi?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Caranavi 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 Caranavi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% 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