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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,011 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,575 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,139 in Iskenderun, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 23% more than Iskenderun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Iskenderun are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Iskenderun 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.44
$6.15 ₺300
84.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$31.47 ₺1,534
23.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.72
$6.42 ₺313
48.29%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$3.18 ₺155
7.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.10 ₺53.7
-5.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.28 ₺13.79
128.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$2.50 ₺122
4.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$3.12 ₺152
3.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.01 ₺49.36
114.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$0.79 ₺38.57
-6.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$1.78 ₺86.6
-3.93%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$1.86 ₺90.8
52.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.94
$7.25 ₺354
27.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$4.10 ₺200
64.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.16
$17.92 ₺874
-28.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.61 ₺78.7
1.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.91 ₺92.9
-7.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$0.89 ₺43.35
110.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$1.06 ₺51.5
130.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.51 ₺24.98
70.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.42 ₺20.41
54.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.63
$0.94 ₺45.87
48.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.66 ₺32.39
12.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$2.13 ₺104
60.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$10.35 ₺505
-26.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$2.41 ₺117
-29.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.19
$3.29 ₺160
-27.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$0.79 ₺38.76
-54.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.59
$29.39 ₺1,433
-48.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$1.00 ₺48.76
18.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.53 ₺26.05
43.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.46
$10.45 ₺510
8.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$1.24 ₺60.7
7.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$43.3K ₺2.1M
-42.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$39.6K ₺1.9M
-44.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$92.1 ₺4,491
-3.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.62
$9.92 ₺484
34.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$11.57 ₺564
73.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$45.79 ₺2,233
49.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾46.99
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.45
$6.19 ₺302
8.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾970
$447 ₺21.8K
-16.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$7,240 ₺353.0K
47.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$46.72 ₺2,278
116.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$29.63 ₺1,445
32.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$115 ₺5,624
1.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$110 ₺5,360
11.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,772
$381 ₺18.6K
78.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$314 ₺15.3K
45.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,384
$821 ₺40.0K
58.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,336
$602 ₺29.3K
49.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,363
$1,312 ₺64.0K
86.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,773
$927 ₺45.2K
56.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Iskenderun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,694
$1,134 ₺55.3K
-42.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
35
-63.94%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Iskenderun: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $381 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 74% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $31.00 in Iskenderun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $210 – making Iskenderun the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,516 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 $374 per month in Tbilisi and $447 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 in Iskenderun?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Iskenderun?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iskenderun, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. 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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