Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lukavac

For one person, living is cheaper in Lukavac: $929 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Lukavac
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$929
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Lukavac

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Lukavac actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $929 in Lukavac.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Lukavac $929

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $1,390 in Lukavac.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Lukavac $1,390

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $1,852 in Lukavac.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Lukavac $1,852

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 37% more expensive than in Lukavac, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Lukavac 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$5.22 BAM 9.08
120.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$30.83 BAM 53.6
24.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$5.65 BAM 9.82
73.45%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$1.71 BAM 2.97
107.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$1.89 BAM 3.28
-43.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$1.18 BAM 2.05
-47.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.31 BAM 4.02
19.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$2.20 BAM 3.83
36.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.28 BAM 2.22
68.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$0.87 BAM 1.52
-12.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.97 BAM 3.43
-11.68%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.61 BAM 4.54
6.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$10.16 BAM 17.66
-9.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$7.40 BAM 12.86
-11.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$10.62 BAM 18.47
20.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.13 BAM 1.96
47.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.60 BAM 2.79
15.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.36 BAM 2.36
45.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$1.20 BAM 2.08
109.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.03 BAM 1.80
-15.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.03 BAM 1.79
-29.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.75 BAM 1.31
89.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.67 BAM 1.16
7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$3.86 BAM 6.71
-12.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$3.97 BAM 6.91
97.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$0.77 BAM 1.34
110.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$0.94 BAM 1.63
153.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.27 BAM 2.22
-70.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$60.8 BAM 106
-74.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$1.74 BAM 3.02
-34.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.59 BAM 1.03
33.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$5.78 BAM 10.06
100.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.52 BAM 2.64
-1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$30.6K BAM 53.1K
-19.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$21.0K BAM 36.5K
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$92.5 BAM 161
-4.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$17.40 BAM 30.26
-24.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$25.86 BAM 44.97
-24.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$32.90 BAM 57.2
95.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$5.52 BAM 9.61
26.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$138 BAM 239
171.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$3,891 BAM 6,765
174.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$59.0 BAM 103
73.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$32.38 BAM 56.3
25.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$96.9 BAM 169
19.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$83.5 BAM 145
46.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$338 BAM 588
100.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$253 BAM 440
79.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$519 BAM 902
146.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$368 BAM 640
141.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$2,447 BAM 4,255
-1.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$1,734 BAM 3,014
-18.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$572 BAM 994
22.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
4.3
193.49%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lukavac: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Lukavac
$253 44.3% $201
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Lukavac
$196 16% $37
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Lukavac
$107 43.6% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Lukavac
$122 28.7% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Lukavac
$136 12.3% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Lukavac
$44 43.8% $34
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Lukavac
$71 220% $48

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $338 in Lukavac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 23% 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 $31.00 in Lukavac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $196 per month, with Lukavac cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇧🇦 Lukavac
🕒 Local time
14:38 2:38 PM
11:38 11:38 AM
3 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
12,061
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Lukavac 2,150 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Lukavac

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 37% 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 23% 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: $677 in Tbilisi versus $338 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 $1,270 per month in Tbilisi versus $929 in Lukavac – a 37% 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 292% 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 $929 in Lukavac versus $1,270 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 $929 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 37% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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