Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $737 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $833 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $929 in May Pen.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 69% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, May Pen 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$2.20 JMD 345

-1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$3.83 JMD 601

-80.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$3.22 JMD 506

-46.89%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$3.36 JMD 527

-15.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$7.46 JMD 1,170

-9.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$4.92 JMD 772

159.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$1.57 JMD 247

4.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$4.99 JMD 783

-64.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$6.25 JMD 980

-70.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.95 JMD 305

25.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.88 JMD 295

-53.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.95 JMD 307

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$3.10 JMD 487

-54.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$2.82 JMD 442

-73.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$2.26 JMD 355

-24.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.35 JMD 212

-1.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.63

$42.36 JMD 6,646

-68.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$53.0 JMD 8,313

-62.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾971

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$15.60 JMD 2,448

548.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$21.83 JMD 3,424

80.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$41.48 JMD 6,507

183.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$54.5 JMD 8,546

124.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$284 JMD 44.5K

60.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for May Pen: September 12, 2026

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making May Pen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $1,105 in May Pen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $737 in May Pen – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $737 in May Pen versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but May Pen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $737 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes May Pen hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and May Pen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.