๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $863 in Qapshaghay.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $1,274 in Qapshaghay.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $1,686 in Qapshaghay.
๐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 39% more expensive than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Qapshaghay36% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86โพ29.20
$7.93โธ3,711
36.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33โพ117
$19.36โธ9,063
123.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25โพ22.19
$5.71โธ2,673
44.48%
Cappuccino
$3.10โพ8.33
$1.58โธ740
96.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80โพ2.15
$0.84โธ392
-4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46โพ1.24
$0.53โธ248
-13.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16โพ5.81
$0.94โธ440
129.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94โพ7.92
$1.14โธ534
157.89%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93โพ5.19
$1.27โธ595
51.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67โพ1.81
$0.54โธ254
24.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82โพ4.91
$1.47โธ688
23.81%
Eggs
$2.56โพ6.88
$1.80โธ843
42.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61โพ20.48
$9.46โธ4,428
-19.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51โพ17.50
$4.72โธ2,210
37.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67โพ26.00
$7.57โธ3,542
27.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16โพ3.12
$1.38โธ648
-15.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62โพ4.36
$1.97โธ921
-17.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87โพ5.04
$1.97โธ924
-5.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33โพ6.26
$2.08โธ971
12.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65โพ1.75
$0.61โธ286
6.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63โพ1.70
$0.40โธ186
57.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18โพ3.17
$1.31โธ611
-9.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70โพ1.90
$0.75โธ349
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04โพ8.17
$1.49โธ699
104.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27โพ19.56
$8.87โธ4,149
-18.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59โพ4.27
$0.85โธ396
87.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30โพ6.18
$2.08โธ973
10.58%
๐ Getting Around
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36โพ0.96
$0.14โธ67.0
157.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.68โพ39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50โพ4.03
$0.76โธ355
97.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70โพ1.87
$0.67โธ314
4.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35โพ19.78
$4.66โธ2,183
57.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13โพ3.05
$0.48โธ223
135.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2Kโพ49.0K
$23.6Kโธ11.0M
-22.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2Kโพ54.5K
$26.9Kโธ12.6M
-24.79%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0โพ199
$62.7โธ29.3K
17.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87โพ31.93
$8.81โธ4,125
34.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55โพ47.20
$13.75โธ6,436
27.64%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3โพ162
$33.80โธ15.8K
78.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69โพ44.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73โพ18.10
$5.31โธ2,486
26.74%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261โพ703
$260โธ121.8K
0.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,146โพ13.8K
$4,887โธ2.3M
5.30%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6โพ209
$56.1โธ26.2K
38.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48โพ117
$44.08โธ20.6K
-1.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118โพ318
$97.5โธ45.6K
21.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111โพ298
$120โธ56.2K
-7.71%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703โพ1,891
$385โธ180.2K
82.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457โพ1,231
$271โธ126.7K
69.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346โพ3,621
$644โธ301.6K
108.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788โพ2,120
$432โธ202.1K
82.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,560โพ6,885
$1,050โธ491.5K
143.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443โพ3,881
$793โธ371.3K
81.85%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Qapshaghay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$648โพ1,742
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
18.39
-35.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026
Last update for Qapshaghay: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $385 in Qapshaghay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $43 in Tbilisi vs $19 in Qapshaghay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $186 per month, with Qapshaghay 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 Qapshaghay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Qapshaghay?
Qapshaghay wins on cost โ living expenses run 39% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qapshaghay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Qapshaghay?
You'd need roughly $1,799 in Tbilisi and $1,294 in Qapshaghay 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Qapshaghay?
Rent for a central apartment: $703 in Tbilisi versus $385 in Qapshaghay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Qapshaghay?
Childcare runs $261 in Tbilisi versus $260 in Qapshaghay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Qapshaghay?
Dining out is cheaper in Qapshaghay โ a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Qapshaghay?
At $863 in Qapshaghay versus $1,199 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Qapshaghay but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Qapshaghay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Qapshaghay?
Both work as nomad bases, but Qapshaghay delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $863 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Qapshaghay hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Qapshaghay?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Qapshaghay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Qapshaghay gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 39% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.