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: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $839 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,267 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,695 in Mashhad.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 41% more expensive than Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Mashhad 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$5.42 IQD 7,106
105.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$36.49 IQD 47.8K
18.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$7.47 IQD 9,782
10.04%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$3.00 IQD 3,930
4.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$0.36 IQD 473
105.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.21 IQD 277
114.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$3.52 IQD 4,610
-39.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$2.92 IQD 3,830
2.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.38 IQD 1,803
36.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$0.78 IQD 1,027
-6.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.64 IQD 2,149
12.80%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$0.88 IQD 1,155
178.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$4.49 IQD 5,876
74.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$2.05 IQD 2,689
204.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$3.09 IQD 4,042
216.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$0.98 IQD 1,280
23.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.21 IQD 1,585
31.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.01 IQD 1,329
77.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$0.71 IQD 936
226.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$0.65 IQD 852
9.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.67 IQD 878
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.29 IQD 376
306.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.19 IQD 246
273.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$0.78 IQD 1,028
274.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$13.47 IQD 17.7K
-46.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.86 IQD 2,438
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$2.10 IQD 2,755
10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$0.40 IQD 519
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$31.56 IQD 41.3K
-53.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$3.73 IQD 4,893
-60.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.47 IQD 1,931
-53.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$7.50 IQD 9,829
-0.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$0.56 IQD 740
105.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$19.8K IQD 25.9M
-9.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$20.1K IQD 26.4M
-1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$177 IQD 232.0K
-58.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$26.01 IQD 34.1K
-55.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$40.80 IQD 53.5K
-56.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$36.02 IQD 47.2K
68.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$16.98 IQD 22.2K
-3.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$7.51 IQD 9,834
-13.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$166 IQD 217.9K
57.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$3,534 IQD 4.6M
45.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$28.46 IQD 37.3K
173.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$30.31 IQD 39.7K
46.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$64.9 IQD 85.1K
81.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$43.00 IQD 56.3K
165.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$239 IQD 313.3K
189.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$181 IQD 236.9K
155.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$581 IQD 761.8K
129.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$339 IQD 444.7K
129.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
-
-
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $239 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 $132 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 Mashhad?
Tbilisi and Mashhad differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $839 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 $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,259 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 Mashhad?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $239 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 $263 in Tbilisi versus $166 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 56% 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 $839 in Mashhad versus $1,185 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 41% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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