Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Iskenderun Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Iskenderun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,144 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,765 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,386 in Iskenderun, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 4% more than Iskenderun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Iskenderun are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Iskenderun 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$6.25 ₺282
78.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$30.01 ₺1,355
43.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$8.37 ₺378
-1.79%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$2.91 ₺131
7.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$1.43 ₺64.7
-48.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.62 ₺28.08
-27.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$3.92 ₺177
-45.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$5.07 ₺229
-41.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.01 ₺45.70
87.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$0.83 ₺37.42
-12.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$2.35 ₺106
-21.28%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$2.05 ₺92.4
19.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$13.34 ₺602
-41.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$6.00 ₺271
4.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$21.22 ₺958
-53.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.21 ₺54.7
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$2.06 ₺93.2
-22.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.00 ₺45.26
79.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$1.52 ₺68.4
52.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.00 ₺45.12
-29.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.60 ₺27.14
11.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.86 ₺39.04
37.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.39 ₺17.82
82.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$2.22 ₺100.0
31.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$11.08 ₺500
-34.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$2.08 ₺93.9
-25.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$2.96 ₺134
-21.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$0.62 ₺28.00
-38.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$30.55 ₺1,379
-51.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$0.77 ₺34.83
92.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.65 ₺29.26
6.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$7.45 ₺336
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.11 ₺50.0
3.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$43.1K ₺1.9M
-58.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$44.0K ₺2.0M
-54.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$77.0 ₺3,475
-4.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$19.00 ₺858
-38.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$13.87 ₺626
28.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$43.50 ₺1,963
39.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$5.86 ₺264
11.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$461 ₺20.8K
-43.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$5,107 ₺230.5K
0.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$51.6 ₺2,327
50.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$45.07 ₺2,034
-1.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$153 ₺6,900
-23.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$88.3 ₺3,984
29.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$516 ₺23.3K
34.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$395 ₺17.9K
16.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$892 ₺40.3K
49.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$719 ₺32.5K
8.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$1,193 ₺53.9K
111.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$1,035 ₺46.7K
38.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$1,231 ₺55.6K
-48.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
32
-62.84%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Iskenderun: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $516 in Iskenderun. 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 95% higher in Iskenderun, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $30.00 in Iskenderun. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Tbilisi vs $251 in Iskenderun – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Iskenderun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iskenderun cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,716 in Iskenderun. 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 Iskenderun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Tbilisi and $461 in Iskenderun. 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 Iskenderun?
Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Iskenderun?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iskenderun, where all-in costs run around $1,144, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Iskenderun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Iskenderun more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Iskenderun – 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 Iskenderun?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Iskenderun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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