Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mahabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mahabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $517 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $809 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,102 in Mahabad, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 129% more than Mahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Mahabad 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$3.05 $3.05
265.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$17.28 $17.28
149.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$2.09 $2.09
293.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.81 $0.81
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.00 $1.00
-
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$2.35 $2.35
33.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$0.99 $0.99
-25.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.96 $0.96
-53.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$0.60 $0.60
215.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$0.41 $0.41
78.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$2.12 $2.12
-12.74%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$1.23 $1.23
99.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$3.17 $3.17
147.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$3.29 $3.29
89.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$7.39 $7.39
32.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$0.77 $0.77
57.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.28 $1.28
24.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$0.86 $0.86
108.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$0.44 $0.44
427.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$0.49 $0.49
44.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.43 $0.43
55.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.48 $0.48
145.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.29 $0.29
144.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.92 $0.92
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49 $0.49
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.39 $1.39
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$2.26 $2.26
29.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$0.21 $0.21
80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$10.10 $10.10
46.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$0.33 $0.33
348.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.27 $0.27
155.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$1.94 $1.94
284.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$0.71 $0.71
61.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$73.3K $73.3K
-75.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$55.0K $55.0K
-63.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$15.77 $15.77
365.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$2.13 $2.13
446.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$5.79 $5.79
206.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$14.45 $14.45
319.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$12.31 $12.31
33.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$1.54 $1.54
322.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$115 $115
128.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$1,968 $1,968
161.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$22.54 $22.54
244.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$25.14 $25.14
76.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$109 $109
8.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$69.2 $69.2
65.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$287 $287
141.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$203 $203
128.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$632 $632
111.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$320 $320
143.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$849 $849
198.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$560 $560
155.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mahabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$277 $277
128.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
22.24
-46.54%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $287 in Mahabad. 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 128% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $97.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahabad cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $775 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Tbilisi and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Mahabad?
Groceries cost about 113% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Mahabad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahabad, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Mahabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Mahabad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Mahabad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahabad. 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.

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