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: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $597 in Caranavi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $876 in Caranavi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,155 in Caranavi.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 109% more expensive than in Caranavi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Caranavi 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.44
$1.37 BOB 13.66
727.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$8.96 BOB 89.2
332.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.72
$3.86 BOB 38.42
146.63%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$1.66 BOB 16.55
105.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$0.40 BOB 3.94
160.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.30 BOB 3.03
113.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$0.79 BOB 7.87
230.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$2.33 BOB 23.23
39.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$0.73 BOB 7.30
197.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$0.81 BOB 8.06
-8.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$0.74 BOB 7.32
131.08%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$0.48 BOB 4.82
489.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.94
$3.52 BOB 35.06
161.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$1.05 BOB 10.43
543.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.16
$3.28 BOB 32.62
289.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.60 BOB 15.96
2.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$0.52 BOB 5.22
240.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$0.46 BOB 4.57
306.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$0.63 BOB 6.27
287.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.54 BOB 5.41
61.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.39 BOB 3.89
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.63
$0.49 BOB 4.85
185.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.59 BOB 5.89
25.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$1.87 BOB 18.66
82.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$2.91 BOB 28.99
161.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.22 BOB 12.13
39.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.19
$1.55 BOB 15.47
53.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$0.30 BOB 2.99
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.59
$8.29 BOB 82.4
83.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$0.85 BOB 8.44
38.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.85 BOB 8.47
-10.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.46
$8.13 BOB 80.9
39.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$0.43 BOB 4.30
209.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$8,359 BOB 83.2K
195.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$11.8K BOB 117.6K
86.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$23.06 BOB 229
285.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.62
$13.74 BOB 137
-2.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$18.00 BOB 179
11.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$8.34 BOB 83.0
723.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾46.99
$12.49 BOB 124
44.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.45
$3.80 BOB 37.80
76.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾970
$83.4 BOB 830
348.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$1,301 BOB 12.9K
722.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$15.94 BOB 159
534.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$17.63 BOB 175
123.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$28.33 BOB 282
314.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$35.16 BOB 350
247.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,772
$488 BOB 4,859
39.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$329 BOB 3,278
38.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,384
$650 BOB 6,471
100.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,336
$558 BOB 5,551
61.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,363
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,694
$206 BOB 2,054
216.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
8.15
54.85%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Caranavi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $488 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 216% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Caranavi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $89.0 per month, with Caranavi 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 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Caranavi?
Average pay runs 216% higher in Tbilisi, 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $488 in Caranavi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Caranavi?
Dining out is cheaper in Caranavi – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Caranavi?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $597 in Caranavi – a 109% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Caranavi?
At $597 in Caranavi versus $1,247 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 109% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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