🙂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: Sandton9% lower, Tbilisi7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38R 183
$11.43₾29.72
-0.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.42R 780
$38.16₾99.2
26.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80R 93.4
$9.40₾24.45
-38.30%
Cappuccino
$2.59R 41.71
$3.38₾8.78
-23.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R 17.46
$1.04₾2.70
3.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.09
$0.60₾1.56
45.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21R 35.63
$2.71₾7.05
-18.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07R 49.52
$3.04₾7.90
0.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20R 19.31
$2.27₾5.90
-47.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13R 18.24
$0.79₾2.04
43.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91R 30.69
$1.62₾4.21
17.90%
Eggs
$2.80R 45.11
$2.74₾7.13
2.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.32R 150
$9.30₾24.19
0.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.02R 80.8
$6.79₾17.65
-26.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.59R 122
$13.01₾33.84
-41.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20R 35.36
$1.64₾4.27
34.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84R 29.59
$1.83₾4.77
0.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84R 29.59
$1.90₾4.94
-3.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95R 31.39
$2.57₾6.68
-24.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57R 25.29
$0.84₾2.19
86.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84R 29.63
$0.65₾1.70
183.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23R 19.78
$1.36₾3.54
-9.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37R 22.04
$0.80₾2.07
71.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30R 53.2
$3.40₾8.85
-2.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.27R 101
$7.67₾19.94
-18.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64R 26.48
$1.68₾4.36
-2.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06R 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)
$0.30R 4.77
$1.14₾2.96
-73.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95R 15.36
$0.74₾1.93
28.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.11R 243
$11.32₾29.42
33.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57R 25.26
$1.38₾3.60
13.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KR 593.3K
$24.6K₾63.9K
49.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KR 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)
$170R 2,742
$88.7₾231
91.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.91R 627
$13.18₾34.26
195.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.17R 615
$19.68₾51.2
93.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.80R 609
$68.3₾177
-44.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.94₾46.65
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.53R 121
$6.42₾16.70
17.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270R 4,344
$372₾967
-27.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,455R 120.0K
$10.8K₾28.1K
-31.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1R 936
$105₾272
-44.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.59R 766
$38.83₾101
22.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101R 1,634
$115₾299
-11.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0R 1,530
$122₾318
-22.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$571R 9,191
$681₾1,770
-16.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465R 7,492
$456₾1,185
2.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,035R 16.7K
$1,312₾3,410
-21.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$861R 13.9K
$892₾2,321
-3.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$881R 14.2K
$2,391₾6,216
-63.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$773R 12.4K
$1,425₾3,704
-45.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandton
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,866R 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.