Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kalar Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kalar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $519 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $776 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,034 in Kalar.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 133% more expensive than Kalar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Kalar 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.69

$1.86 IQD 2,435

480.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$12.16 IQD 15.9K

255.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.02

$3.61 IQD 4,722

129.64%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.96

$1.04 IQD 1,365

188.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.49 IQD 637

67.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.15 IQD 200

206.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.93 IQD 2,528

15.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.74

$2.06 IQD 2,700

41.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.05 IQD 1,374

83.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.85 IQD 1,107

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.99

$1.56 IQD 2,042

20.51%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.73

$1.32 IQD 1,730

92.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.69

$3.52 IQD 4,604

110.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.43

$2.35 IQD 3,079

163.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.86

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

-23.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$0.92 IQD 1,204

32.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.14 IQD 1,495

45.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$1.00 IQD 1,309

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.95

$0.75 IQD 980

198.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$0.70 IQD 920

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$0.72 IQD 941

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$0.71 IQD 934

66.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.44 IQD 581

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$2.65 IQD 3,468

12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.20

$12.66 IQD 16.6K

-39.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.43 IQD 1,877

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.98

$1.95 IQD 2,550

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.59 IQD 776

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.35

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-53.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.96

$2.33 IQD 3,054

-36.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$1.88 IQD 2,456

-63.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.19

$3.79 IQD 4,966

90.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$0.64 IQD 840

78.12%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

9.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K ₾53.0K

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

6.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.7 ₾196

$54.5 IQD 71.3K

35.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾30.90

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

-14.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.38

$23.89 IQD 31.3K

-25.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

213.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.62

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

-1.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.54

$7.55 IQD 9,881

-12.58%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$266 ₾707

$52.0 IQD 68.1K

412.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$1,522 IQD 2.0M

241.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$12.83 IQD 16.8K

505.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

221.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

340.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$32.27 IQD 42.3K

249.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,839

$174 IQD 228.0K

297.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,226

$105 IQD 137.0K

341.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,504

$282 IQD 368.6K

368.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,056

$146 IQD 190.5K

432.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,454

$3,312 IQD 4.3M

-26.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,839

$456 IQD 597.7K

216.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,786

$337 IQD 441.8K

99.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

5.67

109.70%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kalar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $174 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 99% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $12.00 in Kalar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $157 per month, with Kalar 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 Kalar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 133% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tbilisi pays 99% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $174 in Kalar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kalar – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $519 in Kalar – a 133% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $519 in Kalar versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kalar but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kalar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kalar 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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kalar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kalar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 133% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.