🙂A single person spends $914 per month in St.James vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,615 per month in St.James vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,317 per month in St.James vs $2,522 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂St.James is about 23% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both St.James and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – St.James31% lower, Tbilisi11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37TTD 70.0
$10.91₾28.57
-4.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.0TTD 600
$43.19₾113
106.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.52TTD 50.7
$8.53₾22.32
-11.84%
Cappuccino
$3.64TTD 24.52
$2.99₾7.82
21.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05TTD 7.06
$0.81₾2.12
29.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78TTD 5.29
$0.42₾1.09
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81TTD 12.19
$2.16₾5.66
-16.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17TTD 21.40
$2.88₾7.53
10.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.69TTD 18.14
$1.94₾5.08
38.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81TTD 18.93
$0.68₾1.77
313.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62TTD 17.67
$1.85₾4.83
41.62%
Eggs
$5.04TTD 34.02
$2.53₾6.63
99.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.02TTD 54.1
$7.53₾19.70
6.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.23TTD 69.0
$6.26₾16.40
63.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.14TTD 95.4
$9.59₾25.10
47.45%
Apples(1kg)
$5.94TTD 40.05
$1.16₾3.04
412.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62TTD 17.67
$1.64₾4.29
59.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.43TTD 29.90
$1.88₾4.93
135.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.80TTD 32.40
$2.23₾5.84
115.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44TTD 9.68
$0.70₾1.83
105.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72TTD 11.62
$0.64₾1.68
168.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91TTD 12.88
$1.18₾3.10
61.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40TTD 9.41
$0.70₾1.83
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85TTD 39.49
$2.97₾7.79
96.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.42TTD 131
$7.43₾19.46
161.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20TTD 14.83
$1.54₾4.03
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72TTD 18.37
$2.28₾5.98
19.30%
🚌 Getting Around
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.36₾0.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.73₾38.56
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02TTD 6.87
$1.42₾3.71
-28.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28TTD 8.67
$0.69₾1.81
85.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.00TTD 101
$7.27₾19.02
106.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09TTD 7.35
$1.09₾2.86
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KTTD 229.4K
$18.3K₾48.0K
85.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6KTTD 260.6K
$20.5K₾53.6K
88.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.3TTD 535
$74.4₾195
6.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.15TTD 311
$11.71₾30.65
294.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4TTD 421
$17.60₾46.08
254.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.3₾158
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.29₾42.65
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.11TTD 68.2
$6.51₾17.03
55.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325TTD 2,195
$269₾704
20.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,329TTD 49.4K
$5,154₾13.5K
42.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9TTD 397
$77.1₾202
-23.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.85TTD 255
$43.48₾114
-12.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144TTD 970
$118₾310
21.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129TTD 871
$113₾295
14.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$709₾1,857
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465₾1,216
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,316₾3,444
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$767₾2,007
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,492₾6,525
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,442₾3,775
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
St.James
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$663₾1,735
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 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: $378 vs $204 – 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 in Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $914 in St.James, $1,191 in Tbilisi – roughly 30% 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 $1,370 per month in St.James and $1,787 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 $914 in St.James and $1,191 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 $325 per month in St.James and $269 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 $914, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. 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 $914 in St.James to $1,191 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.