πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,894 in Staten Island, NY versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,541 in Staten Island, NY versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,188 in Staten Island, NY versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.
πLiving in Staten Island, NY is roughly 138% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Staten Island, NY is 115% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.84$21.84
$10.85βΎ28.75
101.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2$98.2
$44.17βΎ117
122.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.93$11.93
$8.28βΎ21.94
44.08%
Cappuccino
$5.82$5.82
$3.02βΎ8.00
92.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$0.76βΎ2.02
200.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59$1.59
$0.46βΎ1.22
245.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.08$8.08
$2.24βΎ5.93
260.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83$7.83
$3.00βΎ7.95
161.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54$1.54
$1.93βΎ5.11
-20.21%
White Bread(500g)
$4.66$4.66
$0.72βΎ1.91
547.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.99$7.99
$1.84βΎ4.87
334.24%
Eggs
$6.52$6.52
$2.45βΎ6.48
166.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.47$17.47
$7.43βΎ19.67
135.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.36$13.36
$6.48βΎ17.16
106.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.46$20.46
$9.70βΎ25.70
110.93%
Apples(1kg)
$6.44$6.44
$1.20βΎ3.18
436.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65$2.65
$1.56βΎ4.14
69.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.66$5.66
$1.79βΎ4.75
216.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.52$6.52
$2.23βΎ5.90
192.38%
Potato(1kg)
$3.86$3.86
$0.65βΎ1.73
493.85%
Onion(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$0.68βΎ1.79
507.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76$2.76
$1.19βΎ3.16
131.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.71$2.71
$0.70βΎ1.86
287.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.37$19.37
$2.95βΎ7.82
556.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.23$15.23
$7.33βΎ19.41
107.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82$1.82
$1.52βΎ4.02
19.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83$3.83
$2.25βΎ5.95
70.22%
π Getting Around
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.87$2.87
$0.36βΎ0.95
697.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.60βΎ38.68
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08$3.08
$1.50βΎ3.97
105.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22$2.22
$0.73βΎ1.92
204.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.79$42.79
$7.45βΎ19.74
474.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.14βΎ3.01
-20.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K$34.6K
$18.5KβΎ49.0K
86.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K$27.6K
$20.3KβΎ53.6K
36.23%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213$213
$73.9βΎ196
187.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.7$60.7
$11.71βΎ31.01
418.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3$62.3
$18.16βΎ48.09
243.06%
π Sport & Entertainment
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$115$115
$61.7βΎ163
87.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.66βΎ44.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.89$19.89
$6.61βΎ17.50
200.91%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,983$1,983
$264βΎ700
650.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K$16.2K
$5,145βΎ13.6K
215.83%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0$66.0
$74.9βΎ198
-11.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.44$37.44
$43.98βΎ117
-14.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111$111
$118βΎ312
-5.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$114βΎ301
-6.97%
π Accommodation & Living
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,721$1,721
$692βΎ1,833
148.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,423$1,423
$454βΎ1,203
213.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,299$3,299
$1,323βΎ3,504
149.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,640$2,640
$789βΎ2,089
234.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,431βΎ6,440
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441βΎ3,818
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Staten Island, NY
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,053$6,053
$645βΎ1,709
838.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.74
11.89
-43.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Staten Island, NY: June 7, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,721 in Staten Island, NY and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Staten Island, NY pays 838% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $98.0 in Staten Island, NY vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $514 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
Staten Island, NY vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Staten Island, NY or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost β living expenses run 138% lower than in Staten Island, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Staten Island, NY or Tbilisi?
Staten Island, NY pays 838% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Staten Island, NY vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,721 in Staten Island, NY versus $692 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Staten Island, NY and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $1,983 in Staten Island, NY versus $264 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Staten Island, NY vs Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi β a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $98.0 in Staten Island, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Staten Island, NY or Tbilisi?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,894 in Staten Island, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Staten Island, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Staten Island, NY or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,218 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Staten Island, NY compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Staten Island, NY 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet β expenses run 138% less than in Staten Island, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Staten Island, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared