Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karakol Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karakol

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $433 in Karakol.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $647 in Karakol.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $860 in Karakol.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 175% more expensive than in Karakol, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Karakol 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$2.24 KGS 196

387.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$9.24 KGS 808

367.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$1.74 KGS 152

71.84%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.59 KGS 51.4

37.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.30 KGS 26.44

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$1.16 KGS 101

86.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$1.70 KGS 149

69.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$0.75 KGS 66.0

158.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$0.22 KGS 19.13

209.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$1.39 KGS 121

33.09%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$1.61 KGS 141

57.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

$6.93 KGS 606

8.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$3.92 KGS 343

59.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$5.61 KGS 490

70.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$0.78 KGS 68.2

48.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.35 KGS 118

21.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$1.16 KGS 102

92.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.54 KGS 47.53

29.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$0.36 KGS 31.12

227.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.55 KGS 48.13

27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$1.79 KGS 157

65.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$5.06 KGS 443

46.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.16 KGS 101

32.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$2.35 KGS 205

-2.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.19 KGS 16.82

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$1.25 KGS 110

13.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

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

$74.4 ₾195

$38.98 KGS 3,408

90.74%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$4.32 KGS 378

171.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$9.88 KGS 864

78.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$15.16 KGS 1,325

297.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

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

$269 ₾704

$90.1 KGS 7,877

198.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$34.91 KGS 3,052

222.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$230 KGS 20.1K

208.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$172 KGS 15.1K

169.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$285 KGS 24.9K

361.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$291 KGS 25.5K

163.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Karakol: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $230 in Karakol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Karakol for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $127 per month, with Karakol 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 Karakol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and Karakol differ by about 175% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $433 including rent). Karakol is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,787 in Tbilisi and $650 in Karakol 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $230 in Karakol. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $433 in Karakol – a 175% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $433 in Karakol versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karakol but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Karakol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Karakol 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 Karakol gentler on the wallet – expenses run 175% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.