Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karlovy Vary Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Karlovy Vary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $2,236 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $3,112 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 11% less than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Karlovy Vary is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.70
$8.51 Kč 177
26.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$43.73 Kč 912
-1.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.03
$8.91 Kč 186
-6.96%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$2.90 Kč 60.5
3.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.96 Kč 40.87
-58.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.23 Kč 25.69
-62.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.05 Kč 42.70
8.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$2.02 Kč 42.06
44.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.15 Kč 23.92
67.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.50 Kč 31.32
-54.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$2.10 Kč 43.81
-10.48%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$2.78 Kč 58.0
-8.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$12.50 Kč 261
-40.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$7.02 Kč 146
-11.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$12.68 Kč 264
-26.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.73 Kč 36.06
-29.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.72 Kč 35.95
-3.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$2.14 Kč 44.56
-15.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$3.41 Kč 71.1
-34.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$1.32 Kč 27.58
-46.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.15 Kč 24.00
-41.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.18 Kč 24.66
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.73 Kč 15.14
-9.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$6.98 Kč 146
-57.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.21
$7.16 Kč 149
6.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$0.92 Kč 19.22
67.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$1.82 Kč 37.94
23.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$2.31 Kč 48.26
-84.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.36
$25.86 Kč 539
-44.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$2.88 Kč 59.9
-48.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$1.32 Kč 27.52
-48.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$15.29 Kč 319
-52.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.70 Kč 35.51
-32.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$28.4K Kč 591.2K
-34.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$23.8K Kč 496.3K
-16.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$258 Kč 5,382
-71.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.91
$25.42 Kč 530
-54.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.39
$20.69 Kč 431
-13.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$57.7 Kč 1,202
4.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.63
$21.88 Kč 456
-23.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$7.04 Kč 147
-6.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$187 Kč 3,892
42.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$2,833 Kč 59.1K
83.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$85.0 Kč 1,772
-8.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$41.27 Kč 860
8.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$98.7 Kč 2,057
18.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$113 Kč 2,347
0.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$730 Kč 15.2K
-5.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$388 Kč 8,081
19.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,505
$1,420 Kč 29.6K
-7.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$1,145 Kč 23.9K
-32.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,455
$7,263 Kč 151.4K
-66.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,840
$5,248 Kč 109.4K
-72.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,787
$1,469 Kč 30.6K
-54.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5.56
113.85%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karlovy Vary pays 118% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $44.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $244 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Karlovy Vary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlovy Vary cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Karlovy Vary?
On paper, Karlovy Vary earns 118% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Karlovy Vary?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $44.00 in Karlovy Vary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Karlovy Vary?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Karlovy Vary. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Karlovy Vary more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Karlovy Vary, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Karlovy Vary?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Karlovy Vary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Karlovy Vary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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