Tbilisi vs Telavi
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Tbilisi leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Telavi where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Telavi's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Tbilisi | Telavi |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 70 | 74 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 56 | 62 |
| Climate | 86 | 89 |
| Safety | 70 | 74 |
| Summer °C | 24.9 | 24.0 |
| Winter °C | 1.7 | 1.0 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | earthquake |
Tbilisi vs Telavi: the short answer
Telavi comes out ahead on overall livability (74/100), modestly above Tbilisi (70/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Telavi is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Tbilisi 56 vs Telavi 62, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Tbilisi runs warmer in summer (about 24.9°C peak vs 24.0°C in Telavi), while winter lows sit near 1.7°C in Tbilisi and 1.0°C in Telavi. On natural-disaster exposure Telavi is the safer choice (safety 74/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for Tbilisi and earthquake for Telavi.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Telavi — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Tbilisi — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Telavi — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Telavi — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Tbilisi or Telavi better to live in?
Telavi scores higher overall — 74 vs 70 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Tbilisi or Telavi?
Telavi has the lower cost of living (cost index 62 vs 56; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Tbilisi or Telavi?
Tbilisi — summer highs reach about 24.9°C versus 24.0°C in Telavi.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Tbilisi or Telavi?
Telavi (disaster-safety 74/100). Main hazard: earthquake in Tbilisi, earthquake in Telavi.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Tbilisi?
earthquake is the dominant modelled hazard for Tbilisi on our risk index.
How is the Tbilisi vs Telavi comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.