Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, ME and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, ME and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,078 in Portland, ME versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,565 in Portland, ME versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,052 in Portland, ME versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.

Living in Portland, ME is roughly 155% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Portland, ME is 130% above, Tbilisi is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.47 $30.47

$10.80 ₾28.70

182.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$43.18 ₾115

174.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$8.29 ₾22.03

42.94%

Cappuccino

$6.38 $6.38

$3.00 ₾7.96

112.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.82 ₾2.17

229.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.46 ₾1.21

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.23 ₾5.93

177.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$2.92 ₾7.75

177.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.93 ₾5.11

-49.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$0.68 ₾1.81

445.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.88 $7.88

$1.88 ₾4.99

319.15%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$2.54 ₾6.73

65.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 $16.65

$7.42 ₾19.70

124.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$6.19 ₾16.43

73.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 $14.66

$9.36 ₾24.86

56.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.22 ₾3.25

185.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.66 ₾4.40

Oranges (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$1.80 ₾4.78

235.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$2.24 ₾5.96

170.09%

Potato (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$0.71 ₾1.89

916.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$0.67 ₾1.79

437.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.18 ₾3.13

110.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.66 ₾1.76

225.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.32 $12.32

$2.98 ₾7.91

313.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$7.61 ₾20.21

96.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.54 ₾4.08

21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.25 ₾5.98

32.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.36 ₾0.95

444.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.7 $59.7

$14.44 ₾38.36

313.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.49 ₾3.96

36.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.68 ₾1.82

163.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.51 $29.51

$7.23 ₾19.19

308.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.14 ₾3.04

-20.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K $29.6K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

60.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

27.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$211 $211

$73.7 ₾196

185.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.7 $55.7

$11.64 ₾30.91

378.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.0 $82.0

$17.84 ₾47.39

359.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$60.1 ₾160

9.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.49 $12.49

$16.80 ₾44.63

-25.65%

Cinema Ticket

$14.41 $14.41

$6.60 ₾17.54

118.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,286 $1,286

$266 ₾708

382.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.5K $33.5K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

545.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$77.7 ₾206

-35.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.1 $74.1

$44.75 ₾119

65.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$117 ₾310

4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$113 ₾300

17.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 $2,040

$693 ₾1,839

194.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,453 $1,453

$462 ₾1,226

214.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,336 $3,336

$1,320 ₾3,505

152.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,564 $2,564

$774 ₾2,056

231.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,187 $4,187

$2,430 ₾6,455

72.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,967 $3,967

$1,446 ₾3,840

174.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,484 $4,484

$673 ₾1,787

566.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

11.89

-43.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Portland, ME: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,040 in Portland, ME and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Portland, ME pays 567% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $119 in Portland, ME vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $203 per month, with Tbilisi 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

Portland, ME vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Portland, ME and Tbilisi differ by about 155% in total monthly costs ($3,078 vs $1,209 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Portland, ME pays 567% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,040 in Portland, ME versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,078 per month in Portland, ME versus $1,209 in Tbilisi – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 313% less than in Portland, ME. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $3,078 in Portland, ME, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Portland, ME. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Portland, ME 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.

Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Portland, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.