Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Thomas and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Thomas and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in St. Thomas versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,337 in St. Thomas versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,355 in St. Thomas versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.

Living in St. Thomas is roughly 96% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St. Thomas is 73% above, Tbilisi is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.29 CA$27.80
$11.15 ₾30.00
81.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1 CA$103
$43.13 ₾116
74.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.52 CA$15.78
$8.22 ₾22.11
40.15%
Cappuccino
$3.48 CA$4.77
$3.13 ₾8.42
11.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 CA$2.50
$0.74 ₾2.00
145.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.38
$0.45 ₾1.22
286.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.22 CA$7.15
$2.13 ₾5.74
145.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 CA$7.98
$2.99 ₾8.06
94.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.76
$1.89 ₾5.09
6.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CA$3.66
$0.73 ₾1.97
265.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.48
$1.85 ₾4.98
76.76%
Eggs
$3.08 CA$4.22
$2.45 ₾6.58
25.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.50 CA$13.01
$7.85 ₾21.12
21.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.38 CA$15.59
$6.25 ₾16.82
82.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.56 CA$21.32
$9.77 ₾26.28
59.26%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 CA$5.49
$1.21 ₾3.26
231.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 CA$1.69
$1.59 ₾4.28
-22.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 CA$4.56
$1.79 ₾4.81
86.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.12
$2.32 ₾6.25
61.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 CA$4.09
$0.71 ₾1.91
321.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 CA$3.45
$0.67 ₾1.81
276.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 CA$3.16
$1.18 ₾3.16
94.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.03
$0.71 ₾1.92
108.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.85 CA$14.87
$2.92 ₾7.85
271.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 CA$17.96
$7.25 ₾19.50
80.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 CA$2.84
$1.55 ₾4.17
34.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 CA$3.40
$2.31 ₾6.21
7.36%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.28
$0.38 ₾1.03
531.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 CA$87.0
$14.81 ₾39.83
328.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 CA$3.14
$1.48 ₾3.98
54.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 CA$2.39
$0.69 ₾1.86
153.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.76 CA$42.15
$7.45 ₾20.05
312.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.51
$1.15 ₾3.10
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$34.6K
$18.0K ₾48.4K
40.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K CA$27.6K
$19.8K ₾53.4K
1.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 CA$184
$73.4 ₾198
83.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 CA$74.2
$11.64 ₾31.32
365.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9 CA$77.9
$17.77 ₾47.79
220.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.82 CA$57.3
$60.6 ₾163
-30.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44 ₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.18 CA$15.31
$6.51 ₾17.52
71.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 CA$766
$263 ₾707
112.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K CA$15.0K
$5,136 ₾13.8K
113.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9 CA$75.2
$77.7 ₾209
-29.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$52.2
$44.39 ₾119
-14.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 CA$116
$118 ₾317
-28.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7 CA$111
$114 ₾307
-29.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,183 CA$1,621
$693 ₾1,865
70.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 CA$1,586
$462 ₾1,244
150.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,032 CA$2,784
$1,337 ₾3,597
51.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,846 CA$2,529
$779 ₾2,096
136.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,827 CA$6,612
$2,530 ₾6,805
90.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,741 CA$5,124
$1,430 ₾3,847
161.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,019 CA$4,136
$633 ₾1,702
377.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
11.89
-44.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for St. Thomas: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,183 in St. Thomas and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Thomas pays 377% 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: $75.0 in St. Thomas vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $206 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. Thomas vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in St. Thomas and Tbilisi?
St. Thomas and Tbilisi differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,185 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: St. Thomas or Tbilisi?
St. Thomas pays 377% 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. Thomas and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,183 in St. Thomas versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between St. Thomas and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $559 in St. Thomas versus $263 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in St. Thomas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,320 in St. Thomas, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in St. Thomas. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between St. Thomas 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. Thomas or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, St. Thomas 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. Thomas or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in St. Thomas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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