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: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,129 in Caranavi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,526 in Caranavi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,922 in Caranavi.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 6% more expensive than in Caranavi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Caranavi 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$2.49 BOB 30.13
338.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$7.05 BOB 85.3
20.99%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$3.42 BOB 41.33
-12.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$0.72 BOB 8.65
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$0.53 BOB 6.37
-20.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$1.43 BOB 17.25
51.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$3.22 BOB 38.96
-10.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.48 BOB 17.87
-54.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$2.88 BOB 34.87
-35.76%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$0.86 BOB 10.35
194.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$1.92 BOB 23.21
226.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$5.94 BOB 71.9
61.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$3.44 BOB 41.58
-66.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.75 BOB 21.21
-6.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$1.42 BOB 17.13
32.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$1.17 BOB 14.17
90.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.07 BOB 12.89
-34.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$0.75 BOB 9.02
-14.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.00 BOB 12.14
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$3.24 BOB 39.15
-8.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$3.61 BOB 43.65
105.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$2.19 BOB 26.53
-29.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$4.38 BOB 52.9
-47.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.49 BOB 5.97
-26.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$14.33 BOB 173
2.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$1.48 BOB 17.91
-4.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$1.77 BOB 21.40
-61.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$14.24 BOB 172
-48.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$14.7K BOB 177.8K
24.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$100 BOB 1,210
-25.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$67.6 BOB 818
-73.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$14.56 BOB 176
313.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$21.58 BOB 261
-24.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$6.49 BOB 78.5
0.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$147 BOB 1,782
82.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$2,947 BOB 35.7K
74.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$30.71 BOB 372
41.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$50.5 BOB 611
134.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$71.4 BOB 864
57.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$871 BOB 10.5K
-18.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$580 BOB 7,014
-19.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$1,167 BOB 14.1K
12.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$962 BOB 11.6K
-20.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$225 BOB 2,716
195.28%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Caranavi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $871 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 195% 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Caranavi?
Average pay runs 195% 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: $709 in Tbilisi versus $871 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 in Caranavi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Caranavi?
All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,129 in Caranavi – a 6% 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 $1,129 in Caranavi versus $1,191 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 6% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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