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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,108 in Caranavi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,525 in Caranavi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,942 in Caranavi.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 10% more expensive than Caranavi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Caranavi 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$2.54 BOB 17.41
327.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$7.28 BOB 49.85
13.74%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$3.28 BOB 22.45
-7.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.77 BOB 5.25
-1.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.49 BOB 3.35
-6.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$1.43 BOB 9.82
56.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$3.32 BOB 22.76
-9.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.46 BOB 10.02
-50.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$2.82 BOB 19.29
-34.75%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$0.90 BOB 6.13
172.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$1.92 BOB 13.17
237.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$5.90 BOB 40.39
64.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$3.37 BOB 23.10
-64.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.75 BOB 12.00
-10.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.41 BOB 9.68
26.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$1.15 BOB 7.88
93.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$1.10 BOB 7.56
-40.91%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$0.71 BOB 4.87
-4.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$1.04 BOB 7.14
-32.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$3.14 BOB 21.48
-6.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$5.64 BOB 38.65
29.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$2.23 BOB 15.28
-31.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$4.34 BOB 29.71
-48.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.49 BOB 3.37
-26.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$14.38 BOB 98.5
1.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$1.41 BOB 9.64
6.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$1.73 BOB 11.84
-57.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$14.53 BOB 99.5
-48.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$14.5K BOB 99.4K
27.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$102 BOB 699
-27.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$65.5 BOB 449
-72.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$14.75 BOB 101
318.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$21.86 BOB 150
-23.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$6.51 BOB 44.61
1.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$148 BOB 1,011
79.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$2,856 BOB 19.6K
80.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$30.18 BOB 207
45.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$50.6 BOB 347
132.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$73.6 BOB 504
54.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$887 BOB 6,075
-21.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$573 BOB 3,923
-20.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$1,175 BOB 8,047
12.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$968 BOB 6,633
-18.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$363 BOB 2,489
77.54%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Caranavi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $887 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 78% 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Caranavi?
Tbilisi pays 78% 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: $692 in Tbilisi versus $887 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 42% 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 $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,108 in Caranavi – a 10% 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 $1,108 in Caranavi versus $1,218 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 10% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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