😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $980 in Lukavac.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $1,434 in Lukavac.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $1,888 in Lukavac.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 31% more expensive than in Lukavac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi7% lower, Lukavac29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.83
$5.24BAM 8.79
118.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.6
$29.69BAM 49.86
28.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.54
$5.77BAM 9.70
62.91%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.81
$1.68BAM 2.83
101.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.80BAM 3.02
-42.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.57
$1.24BAM 2.09
-51.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.07
$2.38BAM 4.01
13.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.93
$2.20BAM 3.69
38.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.92
$1.16BAM 1.95
95.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.05
$0.93BAM 1.56
-15.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.23
$2.09BAM 3.50
-22.49%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.16
$2.61BAM 4.39
4.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.28
$10.21BAM 17.15
-8.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.71
$7.64BAM 12.84
-11.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.97
$11.01BAM 18.49
18.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.18BAM 1.98
38.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.78
$1.84BAM 3.10
-0.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.96
$1.39BAM 2.34
36.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.71
$1.20BAM 2.01
114.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$0.84BAM 1.41
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.69BAM 1.16
-5.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.56
$0.75BAM 1.26
81.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.70BAM 1.17
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.89
$4.07BAM 6.84
-16.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾20.01
$4.21BAM 7.06
82.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.38
$0.83BAM 1.39
102.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.21
$0.91BAM 1.53
161.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.03
$1.30BAM 2.19
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.60
$61.8BAM 104
-74.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.97
$1.81BAM 3.05
-37.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.94
$0.56BAM 0.95
32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.53
$5.99BAM 10.06
88.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.61
$1.53BAM 2.57
-9.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾64.1K
$31.8KBAM 53.4K
-22.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.4K
$22.2KBAM 37.4K
-1.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾232
$123BAM 207
-28.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.39
$18.67BAM 31.36
-29.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.4
$26.84BAM 45.08
-26.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾178
$33.68BAM 56.6
102.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.77
$5.77BAM 9.69
11.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾971
$152BAM 255
144.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.2K
$4,044BAM 6,793
167.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾273
$59.3BAM 99.6
76.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$33.69BAM 56.6
15.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾300
$98.6BAM 166
16.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾319
$85.1BAM 143
43.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,777
$352BAM 592
93.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,189
$257BAM 431
77.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,423
$535BAM 899
144.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,329
$383BAM 643
133.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,239
$2,539BAM 4,264
-5.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,718
$1,784BAM 2,996
-20.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Lukavac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,669
$596BAM 1,002
7.24%
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: September 5, 2026
Last update for Lukavac: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $352 in Lukavac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 7% 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 $30.00 in Lukavac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $200 per month, with Lukavac 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 Lukavac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Lukavac?
Lukavac wins on cost – living expenses run 31% 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 7% 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: $681 in Tbilisi versus $352 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 $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $980 in Lukavac – a 31% 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 297% 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 $980 in Lukavac versus $1,279 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 $980 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 31% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.