Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $846 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $1,258 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $1,669 in Mashhad.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 39% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Mashhad 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09 ₾29.33
$5.51 IQD 7,214
101.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24 ₾114
$36.40 IQD 47.7K
18.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ₾22.62
$7.47 IQD 9,786
14.46%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.86
$3.01 IQD 3,944
-1.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.01
$0.37 IQD 480
105.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.18 IQD 232
155.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ₾5.87
$3.47 IQD 4,550
-36.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$2.95 IQD 3,858
-1.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₾5.21
$1.32 IQD 1,732
49.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.94
$0.83 IQD 1,087
-12.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.81
$1.67 IQD 2,181
8.98%
Eggs
$2.49 ₾6.60
$0.86 IQD 1,130
189.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.66 ₾20.26
$4.41 IQD 5,770
73.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 ₾16.58
$1.95 IQD 2,550
221.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.50 ₾25.12
$2.96 IQD 3,873
220.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 ₾3.24
$1.02 IQD 1,342
20.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.32
$1.20 IQD 1,576
36.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.95
$1.03 IQD 1,348
81.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₾6.01
$0.68 IQD 888
233.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.77
$0.65 IQD 857
3.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.78
$0.63 IQD 829
6.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₾3.23
$0.31 IQD 410
293.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.85
$0.22 IQD 294
218.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.72
$0.83 IQD 1,088
251.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 ₾20.40
$13.54 IQD 17.7K
-42.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.09
$1.85 IQD 2,424
-16.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₾5.86
$2.09 IQD 2,741
6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.36 IQD 475
8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.67 ₾38.78
$30.56 IQD 40.0K
-52.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₾3.82
$3.78 IQD 4,956
-61.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$1.48 IQD 1,943
-53.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 ₾19.50
$7.46 IQD 9,775
-1.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.03
$0.57 IQD 751
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾48.0K
$20.0K IQD 26.2M
-9.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₾54.1K
$20.3K IQD 26.6M
0.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 ₾195
$178 IQD 233.6K
-58.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.78
$26.12 IQD 34.2K
-55.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63 ₾46.62
$40.13 IQD 52.5K
-56.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 ₾162
$37.37 IQD 48.9K
64.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85 ₾44.55
$16.76 IQD 21.9K
0.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 ₾17.69
$7.81 IQD 10.2K
-14.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾698
$164 IQD 215.4K
60.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,169 ₾13.7K
$3,644 IQD 4.8M
41.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1 ₾199
$28.72 IQD 37.6K
161.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26 ₾114
$30.70 IQD 40.2K
40.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾311
$65.3 IQD 85.5K
80.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾295
$42.54 IQD 55.7K
162.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₾1,866
$245 IQD 320.6K
188.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,220
$181 IQD 237.4K
154.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 ₾3,486
$578 IQD 757.3K
127.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$781 ₾2,064
$339 IQD 444.4K
130.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 ₾6,512
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 ₾3,725
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$672 ₾1,778
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5.67
109.70%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $245 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $36.00 in Mashhad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $131 per month, with Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Mashhad?
Tbilisi and Mashhad differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,178 vs $846 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Mashhad?
You'd need roughly $1,767 in Tbilisi and $1,270 in Mashhad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Mashhad?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $245 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Mashhad?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $164 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $846 in Mashhad versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Mashhad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Mashhad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Mashhad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Mashhad?
Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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