Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandton and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandton and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,254 in Sandton versus $1,279 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,963 in Sandton versus $2,011 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,672 in Sandton versus $2,743 in Tbilisi.

Living in Sandton costs roughly 2% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sandton 9% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38 R 183
$11.43 ₾29.72
-0.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.42 R 780
$38.16 ₾99.2
26.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 R 93.4
$9.40 ₾24.45
-38.30%
Cappuccino
$2.59 R 41.71
$3.38 ₾8.78
-23.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 R 17.46
$1.04 ₾2.70
3.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 R 14.09
$0.60 ₾1.56
45.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 R 35.63
$2.71 ₾7.05
-18.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 R 49.52
$3.04 ₾7.90
0.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 R 19.31
$2.27 ₾5.90
-47.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 R 18.24
$0.79 ₾2.04
43.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 R 30.69
$1.62 ₾4.21
17.90%
Eggs
$2.80 R 45.11
$2.74 ₾7.13
2.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 R 150
$9.30 ₾24.19
0.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.02 R 80.8
$6.79 ₾17.65
-26.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.59 R 122
$13.01 ₾33.84
-41.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 R 35.36
$1.64 ₾4.27
34.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R 29.59
$1.83 ₾4.77
0.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 R 29.59
$1.90 ₾4.94
-3.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 R 31.39
$2.57 ₾6.68
-24.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 R 25.29
$0.84 ₾2.19
86.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 R 29.63
$0.65 ₾1.70
183.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 R 19.78
$1.36 ₾3.54
-9.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 R 22.04
$0.80 ₾2.07
71.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30 R 53.2
$3.40 ₾8.85
-2.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.27 R 101
$7.67 ₾19.94
-18.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 R 26.48
$1.68 ₾4.36
-2.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 R 33.24
$2.38 ₾6.18
-13.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.39 ₾1.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$15.55 ₾40.44
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 R 4.77
$1.14 ₾2.96
-73.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 R 15.36
$0.74 ₾1.93
28.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.11 R 243
$11.32 ₾29.42
33.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 R 25.26
$1.38 ₾3.60
13.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K R 593.3K
$24.6K ₾63.9K
49.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K R 553.8K
$22.0K ₾57.2K
56.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 R 2,742
$88.7 ₾231
91.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.91 R 627
$13.18 ₾34.26
195.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.17 R 615
$19.68 ₾51.2
93.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.80 R 609
$68.3 ₾177
-44.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.94 ₾46.65
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.53 R 121
$6.42 ₾16.70
17.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 R 4,344
$372 ₾967
-27.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,455 R 120.0K
$10.8K ₾28.1K
-31.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 R 936
$105 ₾272
-44.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.59 R 766
$38.83 ₾101
22.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 R 1,634
$115 ₾299
-11.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0 R 1,530
$122 ₾318
-22.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$571 R 9,191
$681 ₾1,770
-16.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 R 7,492
$456 ₾1,185
2.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,035 R 16.7K
$1,312 ₾3,410
-21.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$861 R 13.9K
$892 ₾2,321
-3.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$881 R 14.2K
$2,391 ₾6,216
-63.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$773 R 12.4K
$1,425 ₾3,704
-45.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,866 R 30.1K
$640 ₾1,663
191.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
12.62
-12.84%

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

Last update for Sandton: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $571 in Sandton and $681 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandton pays 192% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Sandton vs $38.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $212 vs $236, with Sandton 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
Sandton vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sandton or Tbilisi?
Sandton wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sandton the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sandton or in Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 192% higher in Sandton, 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 Sandton compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $571 in Sandton versus $681 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Sandton and in Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $270 in Sandton versus $372 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Sandton and in Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Sandton – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sandton or in Tbilisi?
At $1,254 in Sandton versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sandton but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sandton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sandton or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sandton delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,254 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sandton hard to pass up.
How safe is Sandton compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Sandton 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 Sandton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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