🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $713 in May Pen versus $1,286 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $818 in May Pen versus $2,044 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $924 in May Pen versus $2,802 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in May Pen costs roughly 45% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen48% lower, Tbilisi6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.72₾30.58
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$37.88₾98.9
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.74₾25.43
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.41₾8.91
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.06₾2.77
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.65₾1.69
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.70₾7.06
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10₾8.09
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20JMD 346
$2.20₾5.74
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.87JMD 610
$0.81₾2.10
377.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.25JMD 511
$1.64₾4.27
98.17%
Eggs
$3.46JMD 545
$2.75₾7.19
25.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$9.01₾23.52
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79JMD 1,228
$6.55₾17.10
18.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.19JMD 817
$12.62₾32.94
-58.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54JMD 243
$1.67₾4.36
-7.78%
Banana(1kg)
$5.10JMD 804
$1.81₾4.73
181.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.30JMD 993
$1.93₾5.04
226.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85JMD 292
$2.59₾6.76
-28.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87JMD 294
$0.87₾2.26
114.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93JMD 304
$0.65₾1.69
196.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.23JMD 509
$1.39₾3.63
132.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78JMD 438
$0.80₾2.08
247.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.36₾8.78
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.54₾19.68
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27JMD 358
$1.61₾4.21
40.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.25₾5.86
-
🚌 Getting Around
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.37₾0.96
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$15.11₾39.45
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.17₾3.06
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.80₾2.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$11.33₾29.58
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38JMD 217
$1.33₾3.47
3.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.0K₾65.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.4K₾58.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$89.1₾233
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.22JMD 6,811
$13.25₾34.58
226.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7JMD 8,625
$19.46₾50.8
181.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.4₾179
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.68₾48.77
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.63₾17.32
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$363₾949
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.7K₾27.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.94JMD 2,512
$104₾270
-84.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.70JMD 3,420
$38.84₾101
-44.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.25JMD 6,500
$117₾304
-64.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.2JMD 8,537
$123₾320
-55.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$682₾1,782
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$284JMD 44.8K
$447₾1,166
-36.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,284₾3,353
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$920₾2,401
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,487₾6,492
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,423₾3,715
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
May Pen
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$646₾1,686
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
12.73
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for May Pen: August 30, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
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
May Pen vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, May Pen or Tbilisi?
May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making May Pen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in May Pen and in Tbilisi?
You'd need roughly $1,070 in May Pen and $1,929 in Tbilisi 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.
Are groceries more expensive in May Pen or in Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in May Pen compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $713 per month in May Pen versus $1,286 in Tbilisi – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in May Pen or in Tbilisi?
At $713 in May Pen versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, May Pen or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but May Pen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $713 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes May Pen hard to pass up.
How safe is May Pen compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, May Pen 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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.