Cost of Living Comparison Between San José and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between San José and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in San José versus $1,279 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,443 in San José versus $2,011 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,965 in San José versus $2,743 in Tbilisi.

Living in San José costs roughly 28% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: San José 33% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.73 UYU 592

$11.43 ₾29.75

28.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.51 UYU 1,509

$38.16 ₾99.3

-1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.66 UYU 509

$9.40 ₾24.47

34.68%

Cappuccino

$4.95 UYU 199

$3.38 ₾8.78

46.45%

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

$2.40 UYU 96.7

$1.04 ₾2.71

130.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 UYU 97.6

$0.60 ₾1.56

305.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.84 UYU 154

$2.71 ₾7.05

41.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 UYU 228

$3.04 ₾7.91

86.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 UYU 40.02

$2.27 ₾5.90

-56.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 UYU 82.1

$0.79 ₾2.04

158.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 UYU 59.0

$1.62 ₾4.22

-9.26%

Eggs

$2.63 UYU 106

$2.74 ₾7.14

-4.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 UYU 482

$9.30 ₾24.21

28.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 UYU 303

$6.79 ₾17.66

10.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.67 UYU 469

$13.01 ₾33.87

-10.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 UYU 50.8

$1.64 ₾4.28

-23.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 UYU 59.0

$1.83 ₾4.77

-19.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 UYU 50.8

$1.90 ₾4.94

-33.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 UYU 61.7

$2.57 ₾6.69

-40.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 UYU 40.57

$0.84 ₾2.19

20.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 UYU 50.5

$0.65 ₾1.70

93.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 UYU 60.3

$1.36 ₾3.55

10.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 UYU 75.4

$0.80 ₾2.07

133.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 UYU 395

$3.40 ₾8.86

189.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 UYU 320

$7.67 ₾19.96

3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 UYU 126

$1.68 ₾4.37

85.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 UYU 131

$2.38 ₾6.19

36.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.48

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 UYU 141

$1.14 ₾2.96

207.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.51 UYU 141

$0.74 ₾1.93

374.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 UYU 408

$11.32 ₾29.45

-10.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 UYU 85.7

$1.38 ₾3.60

54.35%

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

$36.1K UYU 1.5M

$24.6K ₾64.0K

46.81%

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

$40.1K UYU 1.6M

$22.0K ₾57.2K

82.25%

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

$115 UYU 4,614

$88.7 ₾231

29.28%

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

$23.50 UYU 945

$13.18 ₾34.30

78.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.61 UYU 1,875

$19.68 ₾51.2

136.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.70

Cinema Ticket

$12.58 UYU 506

$6.42 ₾16.72

95.95%

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

$488 UYU 19.6K

$372 ₾968

31.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,611 UYU 265.9K

$10.8K ₾28.1K

-38.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.7 UYU 3,606

$105 ₾272

-14.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.59 UYU 1,472

$38.83 ₾101

-5.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 UYU 6,669

$115 ₾299

44.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 UYU 4,697

$122 ₾318

-4.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,772

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,414

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,323

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,222

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,708

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,665

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

-60.38%

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

Last update for San José: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in San José vs $38.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $236, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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

San José vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San José wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San José the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,383 in San José and $1,919 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.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $922 per month in San José versus $1,279 in Tbilisi – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $922 in San José versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San José but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes San José the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San José delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $922 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San José hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San José 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 San José gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.