😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,188 in St John versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,824 in St John versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,459 in St John versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in St John is roughly 162% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: St John is 137% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45$17.45
$10.85₾28.75
60.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$160$160
$44.17₾117
261.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42$8.42
$8.28₾21.94
1.69%
Cappuccino
$6.46$6.46
$3.02₾8.00
113.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$0.76₾2.02
288.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$0.46₾1.22
343.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.68$6.68
$2.24₾5.93
198.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83$6.83
$3.00₾7.95
127.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.76$2.76
$1.93₾5.11
43.01%
White Bread(500g)
$5.68$5.68
$0.72₾1.91
688.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52$1.52
$1.84₾4.87
-17.39%
Eggs
$6.45$6.45
$2.45₾6.48
163.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.39$17.39
$7.43₾19.67
134.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$26.35$26.35
$6.48₾17.16
306.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.70₾25.70
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$1.20₾3.18
-
Banana(1kg)
$5.15$5.15
$1.56₾4.14
230.13%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.79₾4.75
-
Tomato(1kg)
$8.71$8.71
$2.23₾5.90
290.58%
Potato(1kg)
-
$0.65₾1.73
-
Onion(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$0.68₾1.79
533.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.11$5.11
$1.19₾3.16
329.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.70₾1.86
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.95₾7.82
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.33₾19.41
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.52₾4.02
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.18$6.18
$2.25₾5.95
174.67%
🚌 Getting Around
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.93$5.93
$0.36₾0.95
1547.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$142$142
$14.60₾38.68
873.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.50₾3.97
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02$3.02
$0.73₾1.92
313.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.45₾19.74
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55$1.55
$1.14₾3.01
35.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.5K₾49.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K$22.5K
$20.3K₾53.6K
10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243$243
$73.9₾196
229.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.71₾31.01
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3$59.3
$18.16₾48.09
226.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.7₾163
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.66₾44.12
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.61₾17.50
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$264₾700
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K$13.3K
$5,145₾13.6K
158.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102$102
$74.9₾198
35.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0$61.0
$43.98₾117
38.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.2$50.2
$118₾312
-57.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.78$49.78
$114₾301
-56.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,196$2,196
$692₾1,833
217.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,785$1,785
$454₾1,203
293.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,323₾3,504
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,996$2,996
$789₾2,089
279.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.0K$13.0K
$2,431₾6,440
435.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441₾3,818
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
St John
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,061$4,061
$645₾1,709
529.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.05
11.89
-40.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for St John: June 8, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,196 in St John and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St John pays 530% 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: $160 in St John vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $204 per month, with Tbilisi 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
St John vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in St John and Tbilisi?
St John and Tbilisi differ by about 162% in total monthly costs ($3,188 vs $1,218 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: St John or Tbilisi?
St John pays 530% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in St John and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,196 in St John versus $692 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 104% higher in St John. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: St John or Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $3,188 per month in St John versus $1,218 in Tbilisi – a 162% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $3,188 in St John, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in St John. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between St John 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 St John or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, St John 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: St John or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 162% less than in St John. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.