😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $887 in Lukavac.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,362 in Lukavac.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,838 in Lukavac.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 35% more expensive than in Lukavac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Lukavac34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$5.17BAM 8.85
109.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$22.66BAM 38.81
93.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$4.82BAM 8.26
72.41%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.17BAM 2.00
153.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.79BAM 3.07
-56.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.86BAM 1.47
-46.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$1.73BAM 2.97
23.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$1.79BAM 3.06
60.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.11BAM 1.90
71.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.92BAM 1.58
-22.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$2.41BAM 4.13
-20.75%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.38BAM 4.08
4.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$10.07BAM 17.25
-23.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$7.21BAM 12.35
-14.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$13.36BAM 22.89
-28.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.23BAM 2.11
-4.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.61BAM 2.76
2.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.85BAM 3.17
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.74BAM 2.98
33.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.78BAM 1.34
-8.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$0.69BAM 1.18
-2.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.99BAM 1.69
20.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.96BAM 1.64
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$3.49BAM 5.97
-16.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$4.01BAM 6.87
91.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.21BAM 2.07
31.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.00BAM 3.43
15.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$1.81BAM 3.11
-79.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$34.85BAM 59.7
-57.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.78BAM 3.05
-15.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.10BAM 1.89
-38.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$10.79BAM 18.47
-32.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.46BAM 2.49
-25.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$24.0KBAM 41.2K
-22.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$26.3KBAM 45.1K
-22.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$124BAM 212
-40.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$19.33BAM 33.10
-38.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$28.26BAM 48.39
-36.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$30.00BAM 51.4
103.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$10.98BAM 18.81
50.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$5.76BAM 9.87
16.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$152BAM 260
77.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$3,314BAM 5,676
55.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$71.7BAM 123
6.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$34.89BAM 59.8
24.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$99.2BAM 170
21.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$120BAM 206
-8.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$254BAM 435
170.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$173BAM 296
172.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$360BAM 617
275.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$313BAM 535
152.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$2,531BAM 4,335
-2.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$1,794BAM 3,072
-18.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$578BAM 989
14.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.14
187.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lukavac: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $254 in Lukavac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 14% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $23.00 in Lukavac. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $215, 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 Lukavac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Lukavac?
Lukavac wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lukavac the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Lukavac?
Average pay runs 14% 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 Lukavac?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $254 in Lukavac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Lukavac?
All in, you'll spend $1,197 per month in Tbilisi versus $887 in Lukavac – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Lukavac?
A monthly transit pass in Lukavac runs roughly 136% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Lukavac?
At $887 in Lukavac versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lukavac but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Lukavac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Lukavac?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lukavac delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $887 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lukavac hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Lukavac?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Lukavac 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 Lukavac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.