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: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $441 in Karakol.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $652 in Karakol.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $864 in Karakol.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 183% more expensive than in Karakol, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$2.33 KGS 204

386.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$9.12 KGS 797

324.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$1.67 KGS 146

104.19%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.58 KGS 50.9

79.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.28 KGS 24.32

128.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.16 KGS 101

125.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.77 KGS 155

83.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$0.72 KGS 63.3

201.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.22 KGS 19.21

236.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.38 KGS 121

23.91%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.62 KGS 142

74.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$6.92 KGS 605

33.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.11 KGS 359

64.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$5.66 KGS 495

125.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$0.79 KGS 68.7

107.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.34 KGS 117

32.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.11 KGS 96.7

119.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.59 KGS 51.5

47.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.32 KGS 28.31

337.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.59 KGS 51.5

25.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$1.80 KGS 157

89.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$5.14 KGS 449

47.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.11 KGS 97.1

53.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$2.25 KGS 197

5.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.19 KGS 16.32

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$1.25 KGS 110

-5.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.00 KGS 87.6

33.00%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

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

$88.9 ₾231

$39.32 KGS 3,438

125.99%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$4.23 KGS 370

215.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$9.44 KGS 825

113.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$15.30 KGS 1,338

348.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

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

$374 ₾971

$92.6 KGS 8,094

303.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$34.02 KGS 2,974

259.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$233 KGS 20.4K

193.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$170 KGS 14.9K

168.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$283 KGS 24.8K

359.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$281 KGS 24.5K

220.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Karakol: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $233 in Karakol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $9.00 in Karakol for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $128 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 183% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $441 including rent). Karakol is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $661 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $233 in Karakol. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $441 in Karakol – a 183% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $441 in Karakol versus $1,247 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 183% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.