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Istanbul vs Tbilisi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇬🇪 TbilisiTbilisi is 21% cheaper than Istanbul
Living on $2,598 a month in Istanbul feels like about $2,199 in Tbilisi — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$154 vs $113
Per month
$2,598 vs $2,199
Local meal
₺ 300 vs ₾ 19
$7.32 vs $7.04
Taxi 5 km
₺ 230 vs ₾ 11
$5.61 vs $4.07
At a glance
FoodTbilisi 9% cheaper
Cafés & drinksTbilisi 49% cheaper
TransportTbilisi 32% cheaper
StayTbilisi 24% cheaper
FunTbilisi 14% cheaper
- Where Tbilisi is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (59%↓), Beer (58%↓), Entry ticket (46%↓)
- Where Istanbul is clearly cheaper: Bottled water (60%↓), Convenience store (60%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Istanbul | Tbilisi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₺ 300$7.32 | ₾ 19$7.04 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ₺ 140$3.41 | ₾ 8.6$3.19 | Tbilisi −7% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₺ 900$22 | ₾ 49$18.1 | Tbilisi −17% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₺ 150$3.66 | ₾ 7$2.59 | Tbilisi −29% |
| Beerone bottle | ₺ 200$4.88 | ₾ 5.5$2.04 | Tbilisi −58% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₺ 520$12.7 | ₾ 14$5.19 | Tbilisi −59% |
| Bottled water | ₺ 15$0.37 | ₾ 2.5$0.93 | Istanbul −60% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₺ 38$0.93 | ₾ 6.3$2.33 | Istanbul −60% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₺ 230$5.61 | ₾ 11$4.07 | Tbilisi −27% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₺ 160$3.9 | ₾ 8$2.96 | Tbilisi −24% |
| Transitone ride | ₺ 27$0.66 | ₾ 1$0.37 | Tbilisi −44% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₺ 820$20 | ₾ 54$20 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ₺ 3,500$85.4 | ₾ 150$55.6 | Tbilisi −35% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₺ 28,000$683 | ₾ 1,600$593 | Tbilisi −13% |
| Laundry | ₺ 82$2 | ₾ 5.5$2.04 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ₺ 410$10 | ₾ 16$5.93 | Tbilisi −41% |
| Haircutcut | ₺ 350$8.54 | ₾ 24$8.89 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ₺ 1,000$24.4 | ₾ 68$25.2 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ₺ 1,400$34.1 | ₾ 94$34.8 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₺ 620$15.1 | ₾ 22$8.15 | Tbilisi −46% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Istanbul or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is 21% cheaper than Istanbul. Daily budget $154 vs $113; a month $2,598 vs $2,199.
How do monthly costs compare between Istanbul and Tbilisi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Istanbul is about $2,598 and Tbilisi about $2,199 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.