😐A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,256 in Kocaeli, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,801 in Kocaeli, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,347 in Kocaeli, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 2% more than Kocaeli, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Tbilisi and Kocaeli are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi7% lower, Kocaeli9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$8.18₺397
39.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$31.12₺1,511
22.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$8.07₺392
16.48%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$3.65₺177
-7.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$1.11₺53.9
-6.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.38₺18.34
57.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.82₺137
-3.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$2.90₺141
4.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$0.87₺42.47
160.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$0.86₺41.99
-8.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$2.69₺131
-39.78%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$2.74₺133
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$9.78₺475
-4.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$4.23₺205
60.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$20.48₺995
-36.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$1.78₺86.2
-7.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$2.10₺102
-12.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.04₺50.6
82.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.19₺57.8
115.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$0.54₺26.20
55.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.41₺19.89
58.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.78₺37.70
74.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.67₺32.51
19.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$2.23₺109
52.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$8.17₺397
-6.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$2.22₺108
-24.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$2.29₺111
3.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.73₺35.56
-46.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
$74.6₺3,623
-79.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$1.04₺50.6
9.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.21₺58.9
14.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$41.1K₺2.0M
-40.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$39.9K₺1.9M
-44.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$80.6₺3,911
10.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$11.72₺569
12.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$13.13₺637
49.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$54.6₺2,651
25.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
$4.15₺202
332.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$5.24₺255
22.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$473₺22.9K
-21.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$6,098₺296.1K
77.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$48.11₺2,336
117.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$53.8₺2,614
-27.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$121₺5,857
-4.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$102₺4,946
20.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$785₺38.1K
-13.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$489₺23.8K
-6.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$1,246₺60.5K
5.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$583₺28.3K
53.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$1,025₺49.8K
133.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$811₺39.4K
75.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kocaeli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$1,204₺58.4K
-46.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
41
-69.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Kocaeli: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $785 in Kocaeli. 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 88% higher in Kocaeli, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $31.00 in Kocaeli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $228 – making Kocaeli 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 Kocaeli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kocaeli?
Tbilisi costs about 2% more than Kocaeli, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Kocaeli?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,884 in Kocaeli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Kocaeli?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kocaeli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Kocaeli?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $1,256 in Kocaeli. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Kocaeli?
Public transport costs about 380% less in Kocaeli. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Kocaeli?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kocaeli, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Kocaeli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kocaeli?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kocaeli costs $1,256 versus $1,279 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kocaeli?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Kocaeli?
If budget matters most, go with Kocaeli. 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.