🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,661 in Jakobstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,581 in Jakobstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $3,501 in Jakobstad.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 29% less than in Jakobstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Jakobstad is 24% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$14.16€12.12
-21.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$86.2€73.8
-49.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$11.55€9.89
-28.83%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$4.36€3.73
-28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$2.83€2.42
-73.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.76€1.51
-74.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$7.72€6.61
-72.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$8.43€7.21
-64.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.44€1.23
31.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$3.03€2.60
-75.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$2.33€2.00
-20.60%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$3.33€2.85
-26.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$8.87€7.60
-11.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$14.82€12.69
-57.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$22.20€19.00
-55.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.68€2.29
-54.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.05€1.76
-22.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$2.65€2.27
-32.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$3.84€3.28
-39.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.44€1.23
-50.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.95€1.67
-65.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$3.17€2.72
-62.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$2.01€1.72
-64.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$11.67€9.99
-74.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$16.08€13.76
-54.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$3.19€2.73
-51.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$3.46€2.96
-33.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$3.48€2.98
-89.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$67.8€58.1
-78.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$6.75€5.78
-78.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.25€1.07
-44.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$54.7€46.78
-86.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$2.10€1.79
-45.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$36.3K€31.1K
-50.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$39.9K€34.1K
-50.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$83.5€71.5
-12.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$30.25€25.89
-61.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$25.11€21.49
-29.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$43.94€37.61
37.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$24.21€20.72
-32.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$18.80€16.09
-65.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$320€274
-17.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$8,011€6,857
-35.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$86.6€74.1
-10.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$42.92€36.74
3.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$112€95.8
5.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$155€133
-26.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$486€416
42.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$522€447
-11.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$915€783
46.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$663€568
17.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$4,206€3,600
-39.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$2,242€1,919
-36.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Jakobstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$2,325€1,990
-72.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
1.4
749.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Jakobstad: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $486 in Jakobstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jakobstad pays 267% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $86.0 in Jakobstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $390 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
Tbilisi vs Jakobstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Jakobstad?
Tbilisi and Jakobstad differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,661 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Jakobstad earns 267% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Jakobstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $486 in Jakobstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Jakobstad?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 358% less than in Jakobstad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Jakobstad?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $320 in Jakobstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,661 in Jakobstad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Jakobstad. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Jakobstad?
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 Tbilisi or Jakobstad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Jakobstad 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: Tbilisi or Jakobstad?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Jakobstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.