🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,482 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $2,489 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $3,496 in Kingston.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 19% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Kingston is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$7.46JMD 1,176
45.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$61.7JMD 9,720
-28.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$8.58JMD 1,352
-3.15%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$4.39JMD 692
-32.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.33JMD 209
-42.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.74JMD 117
-37.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.43JMD 383
-11.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$3.10JMD 489
-7.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$4.33JMD 682
-56.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$3.49JMD 551
-79.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.64JMD 258
16.46%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$3.61JMD 568
-31.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$11.20JMD 1,765
-30.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$6.45JMD 1,016
-4.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$7.82JMD 1,232
22.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$5.99JMD 945
-80.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$2.98JMD 470
-44.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$4.21JMD 663
-56.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.90JMD 457
-19.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$2.02JMD 319
-64.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$2.00JMD 315
-66.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$3.01JMD 475
-60.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.51JMD 238
-56.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$8.61JMD 1,357
-66.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$11.47JMD 1,808
-32.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.78JMD 438
-42.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.04JMD 480
-24.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.81JMD 128
-53.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
$49.18JMD 7,751
-69.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.09JMD 171
37.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$3.22JMD 507
-78.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$6.34JMD 999
14.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.24JMD 196
-12.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$43.4KJMD 6.8M
-57.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
-39.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$161JMD 25.3K
-54.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$22.24JMD 3,504
-46.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$52.0JMD 8,191
-65.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$68.9JMD 10.9K
-11.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$15.91JMD 2,508
3.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$13.38JMD 2,109
-49.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$222JMD 35.0K
20.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$2,532JMD 399.1K
103.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$25.81JMD 4,068
196.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$25.49JMD 4,017
70.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$70.8JMD 11.2K
70.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$74.9JMD 11.8K
47.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$880JMD 138.6K
-21.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$451JMD 71.2K
4.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$2,007JMD 316.2K
-32.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$1,188JMD 187.2K
-33.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$2,866JMD 451.6K
-13.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$2,153JMD 339.4K
-32.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$732JMD 115.4K
-9.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.15
29.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston pays 11% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $351 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kingston?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Kingston. 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 Tbilisi or in Kingston?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Kingston. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Kingston?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $222 in Kingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Kingston?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,482 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kingston?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,197 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kingston?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kingston 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 – expenses run 24% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.