🙂A single person spends $936 per month in St.James vs $1,185 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,628 per month in St.James vs $1,834 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,320 per month in St.James vs $2,483 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂St.James is about 21% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both St.James and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – St.James30% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.25TTD 69.6
$11.15₾30.00
-8.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.4TTD 607
$43.13₾116
107.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.46TTD 50.7
$8.22₾22.11
-9.25%
Cappuccino
$3.67TTD 24.95
$3.13₾8.42
17.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TTD 7.39
$0.74₾2.00
47.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TTD 5.58
$0.45₾1.22
82.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83TTD 12.41
$2.13₾5.74
-14.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04TTD 20.62
$2.99₾8.06
1.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.68TTD 18.19
$1.89₾5.09
41.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81TTD 19.07
$0.73₾1.97
284.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.58TTD 17.54
$1.85₾4.98
39.46%
Eggs
$5.04TTD 34.24
$2.45₾6.58
105.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99TTD 54.3
$7.85₾21.12
1.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.50TTD 71.3
$6.25₾16.82
68.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.13TTD 95.9
$9.77₾26.28
44.63%
Apples(1kg)
$5.85TTD 39.71
$1.21₾3.26
383.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63TTD 17.83
$1.59₾4.28
65.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.33TTD 29.43
$1.79₾4.81
141.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68TTD 31.80
$2.32₾6.25
101.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49TTD 10.12
$0.71₾1.91
109.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67TTD 11.32
$0.67₾1.81
149.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89TTD 12.82
$1.18₾3.16
60.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40TTD 9.52
$0.71₾1.92
97.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78TTD 39.26
$2.92₾7.85
97.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.31TTD 131
$7.25₾19.50
166.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10TTD 14.25
$1.55₾4.17
35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69TTD 18.29
$2.31₾6.21
16.45%
🚌 Getting Around
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38₾1.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.81₾39.83
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05TTD 7.13
$1.48₾3.98
-29.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24TTD 8.41
$0.69₾1.86
79.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.98TTD 102
$7.45₾20.05
101.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15TTD 7.79
$1.15₾3.10
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KTTD 232.0K
$18.0K₾48.4K
89.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0KTTD 265.0K
$19.8K₾53.4K
96.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.0TTD 543
$73.4₾198
8.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.03TTD 319
$11.64₾31.32
304.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6TTD 418
$17.77₾47.79
246.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.6₾163
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.01TTD 68.0
$6.51₾17.52
53.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321TTD 2,181
$263₾707
22.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,320TTD 49.7K
$5,136₾13.8K
42.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9TTD 407
$77.7₾209
-22.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.68TTD 256
$44.39₾119
-15.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143TTD 973
$118₾317
21.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126TTD 857
$114₾307
10.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$693₾1,865
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$462₾1,244
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,337₾3,597
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$779₾2,096
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,530₾6,805
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,430₾3,847
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$633₾1,702
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
11.89
-54.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for St.James: April 26, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in St.James versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $206 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
St.James vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in St.James and Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $936 in St.James, $1,185 in Tbilisi – roughly 27% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in St.James compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,404 per month in St.James and $1,777 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: St.James or Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in St.James and $1,185 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between St.James and Tbilisi?
Kindergarten costs $321 per month in St.James and $263 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in St.James, where all-in costs run around $936, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In St.James it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between St.James and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in St.James to $1,185 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is St.James or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between St.James and Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with St.James. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.