Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Dushanbe

For one person, living is cheaper in Dushanbe: $930 a month against $1,278 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Dushanbe
🇹🇯 Tajikistan
$930
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Dushanbe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Dushanbe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Tbilisi vs $930 in Dushanbe, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,278
  • Dushanbe $930

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,381 in Dushanbe, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,017
  • Dushanbe $1,381

A family of three spends $2,755 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,831 in Dushanbe, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,755
  • Dushanbe $1,831

Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Dushanbe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tbilisi and Dushanbe are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 5% lower, Dushanbe 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 ₾30.06
$4.83 TJS 44.47
140.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.41 ₾99.3
$20.78 TJS 191
84.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.18
$5.60 TJS 51.5
73.93%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ₾9.21
$1.76 TJS 16.18
102.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.79
$0.62 TJS 5.73
74.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.46
$0.37 TJS 3.36
51.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 ₾7.05
$1.23 TJS 11.33
121.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₾8.08
$2.34 TJS 21.53
33.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₾5.54
$1.06 TJS 9.75
101.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$0.65 TJS 5.97
15.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$2.44 TJS 22.46
-26.23%
Eggs
$2.80 ₾7.25
$1.84 TJS 16.92
52.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 ₾24.39
$11.00 TJS 101
-14.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.00 ₾18.09
$4.39 TJS 40.46
59.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ₾32.82
$11.67 TJS 108
8.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$1.83 TJS 16.90
-10.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.77
$2.80 TJS 25.75
-34.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.09
$2.65 TJS 24.38
-25.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₾6.38
$1.29 TJS 11.84
91.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$0.63 TJS 5.84
19.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.74
$0.40 TJS 3.68
67.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₾3.66
$1.30 TJS 11.95
8.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.86
$0.62 TJS 5.74
16.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$3.71 TJS 34.13
-5.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₾20.39
$11.44 TJS 105
-31.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.46 TJS 13.47
16.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₾6.12
$2.11 TJS 19.41
12.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾0.98
$0.28 TJS 2.60
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₾39.54
$16.04 TJS 148
-4.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$1.12 TJS 10.27
6.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.34 TJS 3.16
117.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.89 ₾30.75
$6.65 TJS 61.3
78.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₾3.77
$1.19 TJS 10.97
22.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾64.6K
$16.2K TJS 149.0K
54.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₾59.0K
$24.0K TJS 221.4K
-5.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₾228
$68.5 TJS 631
28.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ₾32.85
$10.12 TJS 93.2
25.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79 ₾51.2
$17.59 TJS 162
12.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 ₾166
$44.84 TJS 413
43.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.17 ₾49.57
$14.31 TJS 132
33.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 ₾17.19
$5.58 TJS 51.4
19.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₾960
$84.7 TJS 780
338.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,163 ₾23.7K
$5,215 TJS 48.0K
75.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾264
$24.71 TJS 228
313.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 ₾103
$60.1 TJS 554
-34.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$77.1 TJS 710
53.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾310
$56.8 TJS 523
110.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₾1,784
$624 TJS 5,744
10.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,193
$351 TJS 3,237
31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 ₾3,522
$893 TJS 8,221
52.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 ₾2,320
$558 TJS 5,143
60.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₾5,888
$1,292 TJS 11.9K
76.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₾3,562
$716 TJS 6,597
92.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Dushanbe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$710 ₾1,836
$436 TJS 4,020
62.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.53
23.17
-45.92%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Dushanbe: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$461
Dushanbe
$351 23.8% $110
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$235
Dushanbe
$217 7.8% $18
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Dushanbe
$91 52.3% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Dushanbe
$98 42.4% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Dushanbe
$96 20.2% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Dushanbe
$56 27.8% $22
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Dushanbe
$20 7.7% $1.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $690 in Tbilisi versus $624 in Dushanbe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Tbilisi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi versus $21 in Dushanbe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $217 – making Dushanbe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇹🇯 Dushanbe
🕒 Local time
06:33 6:33 AM
07:33 7:33 AM
1 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
679,400 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TJS, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Tajikistani Somoni exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 9.21 TJS (1 TJS = 0.109 USD). 1 EUR = 10.34 TJS (100 TJS = 9.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Dushanbe 2,060 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Dushanbe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Dushanbe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dushanbe cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 37%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $1,395 in Dushanbe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dushanbe, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $624 there versus $690 in Tbilisi.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $371 per month in Tbilisi and $85 in Dushanbe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Dushanbe?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Tbilisi, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is Tbilisi or Dushanbe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dushanbe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Dushanbe?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dushanbe. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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