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: $2,340 in St. Thomas versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,352 in St. Thomas versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,365 in St. Thomas versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.

Living in St. Thomas is roughly 92% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St. Thomas is 74% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37 CA$28.45
$10.85 ₾28.75
87.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 CA$104
$44.17 ₾117
68.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.52 CA$16.09
$8.28 ₾21.94
39.13%
Cappuccino
$3.44 CA$4.81
$3.02 ₾8.00
13.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 CA$2.55
$0.76 ₾2.02
140.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.47
$0.46 ₾1.22
284.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.00 CA$6.98
$2.24 ₾5.93
123.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.78 CA$8.08
$3.00 ₾7.95
92.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.82
$1.93 ₾5.11
4.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 CA$3.61
$0.72 ₾1.91
259.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.55
$1.84 ₾4.87
77.17%
Eggs
$3.14 CA$4.38
$2.45 ₾6.48
28.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.68 CA$13.52
$7.43 ₾19.67
30.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.29 CA$15.77
$6.48 ₾17.16
74.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 CA$22.23
$9.70 ₾25.70
64.12%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 CA$5.60
$1.20 ₾3.18
234.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 CA$1.74
$1.56 ₾4.14
-19.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.51
$1.79 ₾4.75
80.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 CA$5.19
$2.23 ₾5.90
66.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.16
$0.65 ₾1.73
358.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.65
$0.68 ₾1.79
285.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 CA$3.31
$1.19 ₾3.16
99.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.02
$0.70 ₾1.86
107.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.20 CA$15.64
$2.95 ₾7.82
279.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 CA$17.95
$7.33 ₾19.41
75.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 CA$2.91
$1.52 ₾4.02
36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 CA$3.58
$2.25 ₾5.95
14.22%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.41 CA$3.37
$0.36 ₾0.95
569.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.6 CA$87.4
$14.60 ₾38.68
328.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 CA$3.31
$1.50 ₾3.97
58.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 CA$2.46
$0.73 ₾1.92
141.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.89 CA$44.53
$7.45 ₾19.74
328.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.55
$1.14 ₾3.01
-2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$35.3K
$18.5K ₾49.0K
36.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K CA$28.4K
$20.3K ₾53.6K
0.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 CA$182
$73.9 ₾196
76.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 CA$75.0
$11.71 ₾31.01
358.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8 CA$82.2
$18.16 ₾48.09
224.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.50 CA$59.4
$61.7 ₾163
-31.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.66 ₾44.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.92 CA$15.25
$6.61 ₾17.50
65.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$548 CA$766
$264 ₾700
107.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K CA$15.5K
$5,145 ₾13.6K
115.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 CA$77.8
$74.9 ₾198
-25.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.52 CA$53.8
$43.98 ₾117
-12.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.0 CA$117
$118 ₾312
-28.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 CA$113
$114 ₾301
-28.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 CA$1,635
$692 ₾1,833
69.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 CA$1,668
$454 ₾1,203
163.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,001 CA$2,795
$1,323 ₾3,504
51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,789 CA$2,499
$789 ₾2,089
126.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,479 CA$6,255
$2,431 ₾6,440
84.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,710 CA$5,181
$1,441 ₾3,818
157.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Thomas
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,907 CA$4,060
$645 ₾1,709
350.70%
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,171 in St. Thomas and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Thomas pays 351% 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: $74.0 in St. Thomas vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 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. 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 92% in total monthly costs ($2,340 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. Thomas or Tbilisi?
St. Thomas pays 351% 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: $1,171 in St. Thomas versus $692 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 $548 in St. Thomas versus $264 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,340 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 92% less than in St. Thomas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

St. Thomas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities