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: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,530 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $2,488 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $3,447 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 16% less than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 6% below, Karlovy Vary is 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.58
$9.59 Kč 199
22.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.9
$45.86 Kč 953
-17.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.43
$9.27 Kč 193
5.07%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.91
$3.11 Kč 64.6
9.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.77
$1.81 Kč 37.65
-41.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$1.42 Kč 29.51
-54.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.06
$2.21 Kč 45.89
22.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.09
$2.01 Kč 41.83
54.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.74
$1.17 Kč 24.25
88.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$1.51 Kč 31.47
-46.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.27
$2.41 Kč 50.1
-31.95%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.19
$2.94 Kč 61.0
-6.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.52
$12.76 Kč 265
-29.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.10
$7.38 Kč 153
-11.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.94
$17.36 Kč 361
-27.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.36
$1.98 Kč 41.05
-15.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.73
$1.80 Kč 37.41
0.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.04
$2.15 Kč 44.71
-10.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.76
$3.58 Kč 74.4
-27.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.08 Kč 22.37
-19.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$1.10 Kč 22.94
-40.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.63
$1.24 Kč 25.71
12.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.81 Kč 16.79
-1.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.78
$7.75 Kč 161
-56.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.68
$7.30 Kč 152
3.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.21
$0.99 Kč 20.63
62.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.86
$1.73 Kč 36.01
30.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$2.44 Kč 50.8
-84.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.45
$25.93 Kč 539
-41.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$2.95 Kč 61.3
-60.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$1.53 Kč 31.73
-47.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.58
$17.53 Kč 364
-35.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$1.87 Kč 38.94
-28.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.2K
$28.6K Kč 593.7K
-12.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.4K
$24.9K Kč 516.9K
-10.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾233
$260 Kč 5,398
-65.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.58
$23.92 Kč 497
-44.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.8
$19.57 Kč 407
-0.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾179
$59.0 Kč 1,226
15.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.77
$22.39 Kč 465
-16.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.32
$7.37 Kč 153
-10.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾949
$195 Kč 4,052
86.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$2,888 Kč 60.0K
269.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾270
$88.8 Kč 1,846
16.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$39.05 Kč 812
-0.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾304
$108 Kč 2,244
8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$129 Kč 2,672
-4.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,782
$729 Kč 15.2K
-6.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,166
$496 Kč 10.3K
-10.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,353
$1,695 Kč 35.2K
-24.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,401
$1,390 Kč 28.9K
-33.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,492
$7,091 Kč 147.4K
-64.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,715
$5,212 Kč 108.3K
-72.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,686
$1,443 Kč 30.0K
-55.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
4.64
174.35%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $729 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karlovy Vary pays 123% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $46.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $266 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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Karlovy Vary?
On paper, salaries run 123% lower in Karlovy Vary. 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $729 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 in Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $46.00 in Karlovy Vary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $1,286 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,530 in Karlovy Vary – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Karlovy Vary?
At $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,530 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 19% 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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