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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $432 in Karakol.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $650 in Karakol.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $868 in Karakol.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 182% more expensive than Karakol, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Karakol 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$2.34 KGS 205

363.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$8.89 KGS 777

396.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$1.71 KGS 149

76.61%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.55 KGS 48.33

38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.28 KGS 24.45

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$1.12 KGS 98.2

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$1.75 KGS 153

71.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$0.76 KGS 66.9

153.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$0.24 KGS 21.09

200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$1.41 KGS 123

30.50%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$1.62 KGS 142

51.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$6.92 KGS 605

7.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$3.94 KGS 344

64.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$5.78 KGS 505

67.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$0.77 KGS 67.2

55.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.38 KGS 121

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$1.15 KGS 101

93.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$0.58 KGS 50.9

12.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$0.33 KGS 28.51

260.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.59 KGS 51.8

18.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$1.79 KGS 156

64.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$5.28 KGS 462

38.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$1.13 KGS 98.6

34.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$2.31 KGS 202

-2.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.22 KGS 19.43

63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$1.28 KGS 112

17.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

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

$73.9 ₾196

$38.85 KGS 3,397

90.17%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

$4.40 KGS 384

166.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$9.47 KGS 828

91.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$15.18 KGS 1,327

306.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

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

$264 ₾700

$93.2 KGS 8,146

183.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$34.96 KGS 3,057

225.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$230 KGS 20.2K

200.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$169 KGS 14.7K

169.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$291 KGS 25.5K

354.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$285 KGS 24.9K

176.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Karakol: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $230 in Karakol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Karakol for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $129 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 182% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $432 including rent). Karakol is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $648 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: $692 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 59% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $432 in Karakol – a 182% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $432 in Karakol versus $1,218 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 182% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.