😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $851 in Mashhad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,277 in Mashhad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,702 in Mashhad.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 40% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Mashhad36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.55
$5.25IQD 6,877
107.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$36.62IQD 48.0K
17.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.30
$7.71IQD 10.1K
10.64%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$3.05IQD 3,998
-1.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$0.37IQD 482
118.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.22IQD 286
90.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$3.37IQD 4,410
-35.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$2.94IQD 3,853
-2.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.07
$1.31IQD 1,715
48.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.84IQD 1,094
-19.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.57IQD 2,058
17.83%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$0.80IQD 1,045
216.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$4.59IQD 6,007
64.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$2.02IQD 2,646
209.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$3.01IQD 3,943
218.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$0.99IQD 1,291
17.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.17IQD 1,531
40.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$0.97IQD 1,275
93.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$0.68IQD 894
227.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.69IQD 908
1.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$0.63IQD 831
1.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$0.29IQD 374
306.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.20IQD 262
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$0.82IQD 1,078
262.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$13.49IQD 17.7K
-44.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.78IQD 2,335
-13.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$2.07IQD 2,716
10.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.36IQD 473
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.53
$31.31IQD 41.0K
-52.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$3.81IQD 4,988
-62.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.80
$1.50IQD 1,960
-54.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.01
$7.55IQD 9,884
-3.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$0.57IQD 742
91.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$20.4KIQD 26.7M
-10.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$19.9KIQD 26.1M
2.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾194
$177IQD 231.6K
-57.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.62
$26.28IQD 34.4K
-55.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.05
$40.96IQD 53.6K
-57.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$36.46IQD 47.7K
65.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.62
$16.72IQD 21.9K
-2.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.02
$7.43IQD 9,735
-12.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$165IQD 215.8K
63.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$3,559IQD 4.7M
44.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$28.68IQD 37.6K
168.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$30.31IQD 39.7K
43.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$64.7IQD 84.7K
82.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$43.57IQD 57.1K
158.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$242IQD 316.9K
193.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$182IQD 238.0K
155.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,441
$573IQD 750.4K
129.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,006
$349IQD 457.0K
119.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,520
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,772
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,734
-
-
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Mashhad: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $242 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $37.00 in Mashhad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $130 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 40% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $851 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 $1,787 in Tbilisi and $1,277 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: $709 in Tbilisi versus $242 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $165 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 $851 in Mashhad versus $1,191 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 40% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.