😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $675 in Karabuk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,061 in Karabuk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,446 in Karabuk.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 85% more expensive than in Karabuk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Karabuk51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.44
$8.18₺399
38.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$25.06₺1,222
54.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.72
$7.79₺380
22.21%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$3.61₺176
-5.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.13₺55.3
-7.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.35₺16.95
82.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$1.61₺78.6
62.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$2.86₺139
13.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$0.93₺45.17
133.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$0.32₺15.71
131.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$2.66₺130
-35.71%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.74₺134
3.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.94
$6.15₺300
49.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$4.00₺195
69.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.16
$10.19₺497
25.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.41₺68.9
16.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.79₺87.1
-1.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$0.81₺39.41
130.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$0.79₺38.35
208.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$0.50₺24.38
74.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.41₺19.94
58.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.63
$0.43₺20.80
225.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.30₺14.63
146.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$1.82₺88.5
87.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$5.16₺252
47.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.70₺82.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.19
$2.03₺99.0
17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.64₺31.15
-43.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.59
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$0.64₺31.18
84.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.97₺47.37
-21.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.46
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.12₺54.7
18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$42.3K₺2.1M
-41.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$39.3K₺1.9M
-44.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$79.0₺3,850
12.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.62
$5.12₺250
160.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$10.37₺506
94.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$17.38₺847
295.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾46.99
$6.29₺307
187.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.45
$4.13₺201
62.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾970
$464₺22.6K
-19.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$6,206₺302.6K
72.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$20.83₺1,016
385.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$28.91₺1,410
36.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$40.64₺1,982
189.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$41.87₺2,042
192.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,772
$254₺12.4K
168.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$175₺8,516
161.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,384
$466₺22.7K
179.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,336
$333₺16.2K
170.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,363
$1,624₺79.2K
50.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,773
$611₺29.8K
137.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Karabuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,694
$1,222₺59.6K
-46.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
41
-69.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Karabuk: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $254 in Karabuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Karabuk pays 87% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Karabuk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $159 per month, with Karabuk 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 Karabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Karabuk?
Karabuk wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Karabuk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Karabuk?
On paper, salaries run 87% lower in Karabuk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Karabuk?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $254 in Karabuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Karabuk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Karabuk?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $675 in Karabuk – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Karabuk?
At $675 in Karabuk versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Karabuk but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Karabuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Karabuk?
Both work as nomad bases, but Karabuk delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $675 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Karabuk hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Karabuk?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Karabuk 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 Karabuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.