😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,100 in Lazaro Cardenas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,739 in Lazaro Cardenas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $2,377 in Lazaro Cardenas.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 8% more expensive than in Lazaro Cardenas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Lazaro Cardenas17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$10.74MX$186
1.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$39.65MX$686
8.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$7.97MX$138
7.03%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$3.21MX$55.5
-6.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$1.23MX$21.30
-34.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.97MX$16.72
-56.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$2.39MX$41.37
-9.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$3.85MX$66.7
-25.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.42MX$24.54
36.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$2.64MX$45.63
-74.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.62MX$28.00
14.20%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$2.40MX$41.51
5.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$8.16MX$141
-7.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$7.73MX$134
-19.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$10.51MX$182
-8.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$2.60MX$45.05
-55.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.46MX$25.29
12.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.72MX$29.80
9.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.66MX$28.70
34.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.89MX$32.75
-62.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.96MX$33.85
-67.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$1.26MX$21.75
-6.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.97MX$16.84
-27.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$4.13MX$71.4
-28.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$10.76MX$186
-30.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.57MX$27.09
-1.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$2.72MX$47.01
-16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.65MX$11.23
-44.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$2.66MX$46.01
-46.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$1.61MX$27.92
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$8.10MX$140
-10.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.27MX$21.97
-14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$21.1KMX$364.5K
-13.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$22.7KMX$393.3K
-9.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$56.9MX$984
30.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$22.50MX$389
-47.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$28.40MX$491
-38.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$35.81MX$619
68.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$15.76MX$273
3.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$4.67MX$80.8
39.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$203MX$3,519
32.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$3,632MX$62.8K
41.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$53.2MX$920
45.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$39.42MX$682
10.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$91.0MX$1,574
30.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$78.2MX$1,353
44.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$506MX$8,757
40.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$398MX$6,891
16.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$927MX$16.0K
41.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$772MX$13.4K
-0.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$1,897MX$32.8K
31.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$1,226MX$21.2K
17.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$566MX$9,799
17.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
11.48
3.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Last update for Lazaro Cardenas: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $506 in Lazaro Cardenas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 17% 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 $40.00 in Lazaro Cardenas. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $249, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Lazaro Cardenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Lazaro Cardenas?
Lazaro Cardenas wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lazaro Cardenas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Lazaro Cardenas?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Lazaro Cardenas?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $506 in Lazaro Cardenas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Lazaro Cardenas?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $203 in Lazaro Cardenas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Lazaro Cardenas?
Dining out is cheaper in Lazaro Cardenas – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Lazaro Cardenas?
At $1,100 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lazaro Cardenas but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Lazaro Cardenas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Lazaro Cardenas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lazaro Cardenas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,100 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lazaro Cardenas hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Lazaro Cardenas?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Lazaro Cardenas 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lazaro Cardenas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.