Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $480 in Karad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $780 in Karad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,080 in Karad.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 154% more expensive than Karad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Karad 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$5.11 ₹486
112.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$21.87 ₹2,080
101.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$4.72 ₹449
75.42%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.59 ₹247
16.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.47 ₹45.08
61.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.15 ₹13.79
206.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$2.37 ₹225
-5.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$3.99 ₹379
-24.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$0.78 ₹74.1
147.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$0.52 ₹49.07
38.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$0.77 ₹73.3
138.96%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.08 ₹103
126.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$7.15 ₹680
3.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$3.76 ₹358
72.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$2.28 ₹217
-47.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$0.78 ₹73.8
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.25 ₹119
43.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$0.64 ₹60.8
248.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.58 ₹54.8
12.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$0.59 ₹56.1
15.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.63 ₹60.4
88.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.36 ₹33.82
94.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$4.20 ₹400
-29.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$8.50 ₹808
-13.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$2.07 ₹197
-26.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$3.41 ₹324
-34.02%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$7.18 ₹683
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.30 ₹28.89
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$8.70 ₹827
67.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.34 ₹32.31
341.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.31 ₹29.37
135.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$1.43 ₹136
420.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.19 ₹113
-4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$17.5K ₹1.7M
5.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$25.3K ₹2.4M
-19.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$49.72 ₹4,729
48.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$5.03 ₹479
132.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$8.77 ₹834
107.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$15.64 ₹1,487
294.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$7.05 ₹670
136.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$4.73 ₹450
39.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$118 ₹11.2K
123.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$3,393 ₹322.6K
51.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$30.18 ₹2,870
148.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$30.53 ₹2,904
44.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$56.5 ₹5,375
108.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$40.85 ₹3,885
178.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$126 ₹12.0K
447.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$77.6 ₹7,376
485.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$271 ₹25.8K
387.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$183 ₹17.4K
331.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$1,110 ₹105.5K
119.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$569 ₹54.1K
153.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Karad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
9.22
28.96%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Karad: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $126 in Karad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $22.00 in Karad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $129 per month, with Karad 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 Karad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Karad?
Tbilisi and Karad differ by about 154% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $480 including rent). Karad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Karad?
You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $720 in Karad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Karad?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $126 in Karad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Karad?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $480 in Karad – a 154% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Karad?
A monthly transit pass in Karad runs roughly 68% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $480 in Karad versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karad but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Karad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Karad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Karad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Karad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Karad?
Expats usually find Karad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 154% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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