πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Grahamstown versus $1,178 in Tbilisi.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,563 in Grahamstown versus $1,848 in Tbilisi.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,115 in Grahamstown versus $2,518 in Tbilisi.
πLiving in Grahamstown costs roughly 14% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Grahamstown24% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.77RΒ 142
$11.09βΎ29.35
-20.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.15RΒ 553
$43.24βΎ114
-21.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.92RΒ 79.7
$8.55βΎ22.63
-42.46%
Cappuccino
$2.10RΒ 33.97
$2.97βΎ7.86
-29.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00RΒ 16.17
$0.76βΎ2.01
31.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78RΒ 12.59
$0.46βΎ1.22
69.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21RΒ 35.70
$2.22βΎ5.88
-0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48RΒ 40.20
$2.92βΎ7.73
-15.07%
π Groceries & Markets
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16RΒ 18.76
$1.97βΎ5.21
-41.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04RΒ 16.84
$0.73βΎ1.94
42.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57RΒ 25.44
$1.82βΎ4.81
-13.74%
Eggs
$2.42RΒ 39.25
$2.49βΎ6.60
-2.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.79RΒ 126
$7.66βΎ20.27
1.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54RΒ 73.5
$6.27βΎ16.59
-27.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.88RΒ 111
$9.50βΎ25.14
-27.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67RΒ 27.10
$1.23βΎ3.24
35.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51RΒ 24.51
$1.64βΎ4.33
-7.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53RΒ 24.81
$1.87βΎ4.95
-18.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64RΒ 26.50
$2.27βΎ6.02
-27.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37RΒ 22.10
$0.67βΎ1.77
104.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23RΒ 19.89
$0.67βΎ1.79
83.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09RΒ 17.57
$1.22βΎ3.23
-10.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96RΒ 15.47
$0.70βΎ1.85
37.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82RΒ 45.65
$2.92βΎ7.73
-3.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.89RΒ 79.1
$7.72βΎ20.42
-36.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33RΒ 21.49
$1.55βΎ4.09
-14.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72RΒ 27.89
$2.22βΎ5.86
-22.52%
π Getting Around
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61RΒ 26.10
$0.39βΎ1.02
312.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.67βΎ38.81
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11RΒ 17.90
$1.44βΎ3.82
-22.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RΒ 14.65
$0.69βΎ1.81
30.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.91RΒ 63.3
$7.37βΎ19.52
-46.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24RΒ 20.13
$1.14βΎ3.03
8.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KRΒ 341.1K
$18.2KβΎ48.1K
16.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KRΒ 386.8K
$20.4KβΎ54.1K
16.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116RΒ 1,880
$73.6βΎ195
57.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.38RΒ 573
$11.64βΎ30.80
203.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31RΒ 685
$17.63βΎ46.65
139.99%
π Sport & Entertainment
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.28RΒ 506
$61.4βΎ162
-49.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.85βΎ44.59
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.79RΒ 110
$6.69βΎ17.71
1.49%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200RΒ 3,231
$264βΎ699
-24.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,321RΒ 69.9K
$5,169βΎ13.7K
-16.40%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2RΒ 813
$75.1βΎ199
-33.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.79RΒ 515
$43.26βΎ114
-26.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5RΒ 1,416
$118βΎ311
-25.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6RΒ 1,272
$111βΎ295
-29.50%
π Accommodation & Living
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369RΒ 5,970
$706βΎ1,868
-47.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339RΒ 5,486
$461βΎ1,221
-26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$677RΒ 11.0K
$1,318βΎ3,488
-48.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$683RΒ 11.1K
$781βΎ2,066
-12.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$832RΒ 13.5K
$2,463βΎ6,517
-66.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$691RΒ 11.2K
$1,409βΎ3,727
-50.91%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Grahamstown
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,224RΒ 19.8K
$672βΎ1,779
82.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
11.89
-3.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grahamstown: June 14, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $369 in Grahamstown and $706 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Grahamstown pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $34.00 in Grahamstown vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $206 per month, with Grahamstown 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
Grahamstown vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grahamstown or Tbilisi?
Grahamstown wins on cost β living expenses run 17% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grahamstown the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Grahamstown or Tbilisi?
Grahamstown pays 82% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Grahamstown vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $369 in Grahamstown versus $706 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Grahamstown or Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Grahamstown compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,011 per month in Grahamstown versus $1,178 in Tbilisi β a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Grahamstown or Tbilisi?
At $1,011 in Grahamstown versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Grahamstown but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Grahamstown the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Grahamstown or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Grahamstown delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,011 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Grahamstown hard to pass up.
How safe is Grahamstown compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Grahamstown and Tbilisi 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 Grahamstown gentler on the wallet β expenses run 17% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Grahamstown vs other spots: cost of living compared