Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $864 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,359 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,854 in Zakho, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 41% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$7.58 IQD 9,926
43.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$22.64 IQD 29.7K
95.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$8.88 IQD 11.6K
-6.76%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$3.19 IQD 4,184
-5.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.48 IQD 628
58.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.22 IQD 288
109.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$2.03 IQD 2,656
10.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$2.04 IQD 2,673
47.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.33 IQD 1,739
45.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$0.79 IQD 1,039
-8.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$1.86 IQD 2,434
-1.08%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.90 IQD 2,489
28.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$7.27 IQD 9,524
2.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$4.81 IQD 6,294
34.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$14.09 IQD 18.5K
-31.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$1.15 IQD 1,510
4.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.19 IQD 1,558
31.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.18 IQD 1,541
51.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$0.81 IQD 1,062
175.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.66 IQD 864
-1.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$0.71 IQD 933
-4.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.72 IQD 947
65.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.56 IQD 727
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$2.62 IQD 3,430
12.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$12.35 IQD 16.2K
-40.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$1.45 IQD 1,898
4.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.94 IQD 2,542
15.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.40 IQD 521
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$30.88 IQD 40.4K
-52.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$2.26 IQD 2,965
-33.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$2.23 IQD 2,921
-67.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$7.00 IQD 9,165
6.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$0.70 IQD 912
62.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$19.2K IQD 25.1M
-3.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$20.6K IQD 27.0M
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$100 IQD 131.0K
-26.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$17.47 IQD 22.9K
-32.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$29.69 IQD 38.9K
-38.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$37.17 IQD 48.7K
66.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$17.01 IQD 22.3K
-2.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$11.66 IQD 15.3K
-43.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$272 IQD 355.7K
-2.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$3,319 IQD 4.3M
55.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$32.98 IQD 43.2K
126.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$49.77 IQD 65.2K
-11.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$82.0 IQD 107.4K
43.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$76.1 IQD 99.6K
49.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$246 IQD 321.7K
181.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$180 IQD 236.0K
151.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$580 IQD 759.4K
128.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$343 IQD 448.6K
130.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Zakho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$659 IQD 863.5K
-2.17%
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 9, 2026

Last update for Zakho: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $246 in Zakho. 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 2% higher in Zakho, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $23.00 in Zakho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $195 – making Zakho 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 Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Zakho compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $864 in Zakho – roughly 41% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Zakho?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,296 in Zakho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Zakho?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zakho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $23.00 in Zakho. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Zakho?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $864 in Zakho. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Zakho?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $864 in Zakho to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Zakho safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Zakho?
If budget matters most, go with Zakho. 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.

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