😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $353 in Ismailia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $591 in Ismailia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $830 in Ismailia.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 265% more expensive than in Ismailia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Ismailia74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.55
$3.46E£176
238.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.8
$16.03E£815
136.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.41
$3.92E£199
148.47%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.90
$1.09E£55.5
212.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.76
$0.31E£15.96
241.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.13E£6.57
400.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.05
$1.36E£69.0
98.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.08
$2.02E£103
53.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.73
$0.89E£45.09
147.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$0.41E£20.62
97.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$0.65E£32.78
152.31%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.18
$1.22E£62.0
125.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.50
$3.84E£195
134.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.09
$4.31E£219
51.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.91
$7.67E£390
64.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$1.57E£79.9
6.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$0.54E£27.37
235.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.03
$0.45E£22.71
328.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$0.37E£18.66
600.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$0.27E£13.80
222.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.68
$0.33E£16.97
96.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$0.25E£12.72
456.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.18E£9.23
344.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$2.03E£103
65.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.66
$5.80E£295
30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$1.11E£56.4
45.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$2.02E£103
11.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$0.27E£13.76
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.41
$3.91E£199
286.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.05
$0.41E£20.65
185.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.45E£22.94
77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.55
$2.01E£102
463.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$0.43E£21.86
209.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$29.0KE£1.5M
-13.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$16.0KE£813.8K
39.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾232
$14.02E£713
535.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.55
$7.41E£376
78.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$8.09E£411
140.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾178
$10.40E£529
557.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.73
$19.59E£996
-4.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.30
$2.03E£103
226.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾948
$69.5E£3,532
423.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$1,253E£63.7K
750.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$14.00E£711
639.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$9.70E£493
300.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$124E£6,309
-6.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$29.02E£1,475
323.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,780
$81.0E£4,115
742.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,165
$33.04E£1,679
1251.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,349
$127E£6,460
910.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,399
$78.0E£3,965
1079.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,486
$491E£25.0K
406.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,711
$139E£7,052
925.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,684
$107E£5,424
505.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
21.33
-40.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ismailia: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $81.0 in Ismailia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 505% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $16.00 in Ismailia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $117 per month, with Ismailia cheaper across the board.
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 Ismailia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Ismailia?
Ismailia wins on cost – living expenses run 265% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ismailia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Ismailia?
Average pay runs 505% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Ismailia?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $81.0 in Ismailia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Ismailia?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $69.5 in Ismailia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Ismailia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 98% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Ismailia?
At $353 in Ismailia versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ismailia but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ismailia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Ismailia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ismailia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $353 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ismailia hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Ismailia?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ismailia 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ismailia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 265% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.