Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $979 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,491 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,002 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 24% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Makhachkala 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.69

$15.31 ₽1,125

-29.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$38.77 ₽2,848

11.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.02

$5.20 ₽382

59.42%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.96

$3.12 ₽229

-3.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.84 ₽62.0

-2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.35 ₽25.81

31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.36 ₽99.6

63.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.74

$2.50 ₽184

16.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.51 ₽111

27.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.60 ₽44.23

13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.99

$1.38 ₽101

36.23%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.73

$1.37 ₽101

85.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.69

$2.97 ₽218

149.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.43

$4.80 ₽353

28.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.86

$4.92 ₽361

90.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$1.74 ₽128

-29.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.75 ₽129

-5.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$2.72 ₽200

-33.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.95

$1.89 ₽139

18.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$0.88 ₽64.5

-19.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$0.49 ₽35.84

36.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$2.36 ₽173

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.59 ₽43.05

11.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$3.19 ₽234

-6.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.20

$4.22 ₽310

80.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.04 ₽76.4

48.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.98

$1.85 ₽136

21.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.43 ₽31.44

-16.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.35

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.96

$2.22 ₽163

-32.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$0.21 ₽15.53

223.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.19

$6.18 ₽454

16.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$0.70 ₽51.3

62.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$35.3K ₽2.6M

-47.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K ₾53.0K

$30.3K ₽2.2M

-34.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.7 ₾196

$54.9 ₽4,033

34.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾30.90

$6.13 ₽450

89.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.38

$9.84 ₽723

81.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$46.58 ₽3,421

29.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.62

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.54

$5.02 ₽369

31.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$266 ₾707

$166 ₽12.2K

60.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$7,077 ₽519.9K

-26.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$106 ₽7,777

-26.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$44.24 ₽3,250

1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$105 ₽7,704

11.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$145 ₽10.7K

-22.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,839

$501 ₽36.8K

38.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,226

$305 ₽22.4K

51.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,504

$698 ₽51.2K

89.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,056

$399 ₽29.3K

93.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,454

$1,789 ₽131.4K

35.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,839

$1,289 ₽94.7K

12.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,786

$860 ₽63.1K

-21.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

11.33

4.94%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $501 in Makhachkala. 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 28% higher in Makhachkala, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $39.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $157 – making Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,468 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $979 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $166 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.