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: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $545 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $826 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $1,106 in Kalar.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 135% more expensive than in Kalar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 7% lower, Kalar 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$1.86 IQD 2,434

514.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

207.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$3.64 IQD 4,770

158.24%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$0.99 IQD 1,299

241.41%

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

$1.04 ₾2.70

$0.52 IQD 683

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.14 IQD 184

328.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$6.03 IQD 7,902

-55.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$4.48 IQD 5,873

-32.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$1.10 IQD 1,441

106.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$0.76 IQD 996

3.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$1.54 IQD 2,021

5.19%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$1.32 IQD 1,728

107.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$3.48 IQD 4,558

167.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$2.24 IQD 2,930

203.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

6.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$0.94 IQD 1,228

74.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$1.15 IQD 1,504

59.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$0.94 IQD 1,226

102.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$0.81 IQD 1,059

217.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$0.71 IQD 928

18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.70 IQD 916

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$0.78 IQD 1,025

74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.40 IQD 528

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$2.52 IQD 3,296

34.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

-39.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$1.67 IQD 2,191

0.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$2.15 IQD 2,818

10.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.55 IQD 716

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$30.21 IQD 39.6K

-48.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$1.86 IQD 2,440

-38.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-58.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$3.78 IQD 4,947

199.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$0.67 IQD 875

105.97%

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

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$16.7K IQD 21.8M

47.42%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$18.7K IQD 24.5M

17.57%

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

$88.7 ₾231

$52.8 IQD 69.2K

67.92%

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

$13.18 ₾34.26

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

-1.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$23.92 IQD 31.3K

-17.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

259.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

$38.34 IQD 50.2K

-53.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

-17.59%

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

$372 ₾967

$50.8 IQD 66.5K

632.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$1,532 IQD 2.0M

606.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$12.97 IQD 17.0K

705.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$14.14 IQD 18.5K

174.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$26.37 IQD 34.5K

335.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$32.17 IQD 42.1K

280.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$171 IQD 224.5K

297.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$106 IQD 138.8K

329.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$281 IQD 367.7K

367.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$148 IQD 193.9K

502.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$3,286 IQD 4.3M

-27.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$451 IQD 591.1K

215.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$343 IQD 448.8K

86.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

2.53

398.81%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kalar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $171 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 87% 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 $12.00 in Kalar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 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 135% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 87% higher in Tbilisi, 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: $681 in Tbilisi versus $171 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $545 in Kalar – a 135% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $545 in Kalar versus $1,279 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 135% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.