🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,706 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $2,847 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $3,988 in Kingston.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 27% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Kingston is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$15.99JMD 2,509
-29.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$75.5JMD 11.8K
-48.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$8.66JMD 1,359
9.93%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$5.31JMD 833
-35.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.20JMD 188
-13.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.67JMD 106
-4.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.19JMD 344
19.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$3.20JMD 503
1.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$4.10JMD 643
-47.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$3.89JMD 610
-80.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.59JMD 249
7.55%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$3.55JMD 557
-20.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$11.67JMD 1,832
-20.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$6.44JMD 1,011
4.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$10.24JMD 1,607
24.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$6.18JMD 970
-73.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$3.87JMD 608
-54.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$7.50JMD 1,176
-75.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$3.07JMD 482
-20.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$3.37JMD 528
-74.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$2.72JMD 427
-76.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$3.12JMD 490
-55.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.52JMD 239
-51.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$9.54JMD 1,497
-64.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$11.43JMD 1,793
-33.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$2.80JMD 440
-39.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$4.09JMD 641
-41.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.76JMD 119
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$37.96JMD 5,955
-59.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$1.17JMD 183
0.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$3.21JMD 504
-76.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$6.25JMD 981
81.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.42JMD 223
-6.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$44.6KJMD 7.0M
-44.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$33.0KJMD 5.2M
-33.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$172JMD 27.1K
-48.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$29.30JMD 4,596
-54.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$52.1JMD 8,176
-61.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$61.6JMD 9,668
11.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
$18.13JMD 2,844
-0.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$13.19JMD 2,070
-49.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$362JMD 56.7K
3.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$8,377JMD 1.3M
27.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$23.49JMD 3,685
330.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$32.14JMD 5,042
22.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$79.8JMD 12.5K
47.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$102JMD 16.0K
19.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$981JMD 153.9K
-30.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$566JMD 88.8K
-19.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$2,130JMD 334.2K
-38.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$1,384JMD 217.1K
-34.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
$2,880JMD 451.8K
-14.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
$2,071JMD 324.9K
-29.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$739JMD 116.0K
-11.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
9.45
33.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Kingston: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $981 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston pays 13% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $75.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $389 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 37% 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 13% 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $981 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 $374 in Tbilisi versus $362 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 67% 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 $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,706 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 $1,247 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 37% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.