Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karlovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karlovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $779 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,241 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,703 in Karlovo, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 52% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Karlovo are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Karlovo 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$7.43 BGN 12.41
50.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$36.05 BGN 60.2
19.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$9.08 BGN 15.17
-9.47%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$1.50 BGN 2.51
108.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$1.12 BGN 1.87
-33.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.71 BGN 1.18
-36.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$2.03 BGN 3.39
4.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$1.78 BGN 2.98
67.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.19 BGN 1.99
58.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$0.89 BGN 1.49
-17.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.93 BGN 3.22
-4.15%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$3.37 BGN 5.63
-27.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$9.53 BGN 15.91
-17.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$8.17 BGN 13.64
-23.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$5.75 BGN 9.61
69.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.32 BGN 2.21
-8.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$2.07 BGN 3.46
-23.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$2.05 BGN 3.42
-12.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$2.18 BGN 3.65
6.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$0.49 BGN 0.82
44.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.86 BGN 1.43
-22.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$1.02 BGN 1.70
15.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.75 BGN 1.26
-5.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$3.51 BGN 5.86
-16.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$5.83 BGN 9.73
24.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.02 BGN 1.70
51.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.79 BGN 2.99
29.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$1.15 BGN 1.92
-66.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$26.95 BGN 45.01
-45.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$1.21 BGN 2.02
22.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.66 BGN 1.11
4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$13.31 BGN 22.24
-44.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.46 BGN 2.44
-21.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$31.7K BGN 53.0K
-43.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$25.8K BGN 43.1K
-23.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$93.2 BGN 156
-21.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$16.33 BGN 27.28
-28.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$13.00 BGN 21.70
36.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$29.20 BGN 48.76
107.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$14.97 BGN 25.01
9.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$5.73 BGN 9.56
13.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$233 BGN 390
12.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$4,072 BGN 6,801
26.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$29.93 BGN 49.98
159.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$11.99 BGN 20.03
270.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$58.1 BGN 97.0
102.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$47.80 BGN 79.8
138.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$293 BGN 489
136.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$198 BGN 330
133.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$478 BGN 798
179.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$355 BGN 593
119.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$1,528 BGN 2,552
65.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$1,054 BGN 1,761
35.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Karlovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$487 BGN 813
29.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.57
160.18%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $293 in Karlovo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 30% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $36.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $204 – making Karlovo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Karlovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlovo cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,169 in Karlovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 82% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Tbilisi and $233 in Karlovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Karlovo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Karlovo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Karlovo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlovo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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