🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Sao Luis versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sao Luis versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,564 in Sao Luis versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.
🙂Living in Sao Luis costs roughly 36% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sao Luis42% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01R$25.36
$10.80₾28.70
-53.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.50R$154
$43.18₾115
-29.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.33R$37.09
$8.29₾22.03
-11.58%
Cappuccino
$2.05R$10.38
$3.00₾7.96
-31.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95R$4.80
$0.82₾2.17
15.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.80
$0.46₾1.21
19.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.29
$2.23₾5.93
-17.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19R$16.16
$2.92₾7.75
9.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96R$4.86
$1.93₾5.11
-50.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92R$9.73
$0.68₾1.81
182.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01R$5.13
$1.88₾4.99
-46.28%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.77
$2.54₾6.73
-24.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39R$47.49
$7.42₾19.70
26.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70R$18.71
$6.19₾16.43
-40.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.21R$36.49
$9.36₾24.86
-22.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86R$9.43
$1.22₾3.25
52.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21R$6.10
$1.66₾4.40
-27.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96R$4.85
$1.80₾4.78
-46.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37R$6.91
$2.24₾5.96
-38.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11R$5.61
$0.71₾1.89
56.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R$6.28
$0.67₾1.79
85.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79R$4.02
$1.18₾3.13
-33.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57R$2.86
$0.66₾1.76
-13.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03R$10.25
$2.98₾7.91
-31.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.03R$40.62
$7.61₾20.21
5.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10R$5.56
$1.54₾4.08
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94R$9.82
$2.25₾5.98
-13.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79R$4.02
$0.36₾0.95
119.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.80R$181
$14.44₾38.36
147.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94R$4.74
$1.49₾3.96
-36.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50R$2.51
$0.68₾1.82
-26.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.49R$32.84
$7.23₾19.19
-10.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.79
$1.14₾3.04
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2KR$86.9K
$18.5K₾49.0K
-6.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KR$130.4K
$20.0K₾53.0K
29.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0R$425
$73.7₾196
14.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.24R$87.2
$11.64₾30.91
48.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.25R$82.2
$17.84₾47.39
-8.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.13R$91.7
$60.1₾160
-69.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.52R$78.5
$16.80₾44.63
-7.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99R$30.32
$6.60₾17.54
-9.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204R$1,030
$266₾708
-23.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,284R$21.7K
$5,191₾13.8K
-17.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.54R$225
$77.7₾206
-42.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.88R$242
$44.75₾119
6.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.3R$275
$117₾310
-53.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0R$278
$113₾300
-51.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389R$1,970
$693₾1,839
-43.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$208R$1,053
$462₾1,226
-54.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516R$2,609
$1,320₾3,505
-60.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295R$1,495
$774₾2,056
-61.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,505R$7,614
$2,430₾6,455
-38.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$723R$3,660
$1,446₾3,840
-49.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Luis
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$381R$1,927
$673₾1,787
-43.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.89
-8.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sao Luis: June 1, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $389 in Sao Luis and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 77% 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: $31.00 in Sao Luis vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $203 per month, with Sao Luis 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
Sao Luis vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sao Luis and Tbilisi?
Sao Luis and Tbilisi differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $1,209 including rent). Sao Luis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Tbilisi earns 77% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sao Luis and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $389 in Sao Luis versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sao Luis – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $774 in Sao Luis versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sao Luis but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Luis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sao Luis and Tbilisi?
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.
Is Sao Luis or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sao Luis 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.
Where should expats move: Sao Luis or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Sao Luis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.