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: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $630 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $973 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,316 in May Pen.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 92% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.70

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.03

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.96

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$2.24 JMD 353

-13.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$3.68 JMD 578

-81.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.99

$3.18 JMD 500

-40.88%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.73

$3.46 JMD 544

-26.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.43

$7.63 JMD 1,200

-18.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.86

$5.09 JMD 800

83.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$1.53 JMD 241

-20.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$5.11 JMD 804

-67.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$6.08 JMD 956

-70.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$1.91 JMD 300

17.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$1.93 JMD 303

-63.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.85 JMD 291

-63.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$3.19 JMD 502

-63.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$2.90 JMD 455

-77.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$2.22 JMD 349

-30.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.83 JMD 130

-56.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.19

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.41 JMD 222

-19.15%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

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

$20.0K ₾53.0K

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

$73.7 ₾196

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

$11.64 ₾30.91

$41.74 JMD 6,563

-72.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.39

$39.36 JMD 6,189

-54.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.54

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

$266 ₾708

$313 JMD 49.2K

-14.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$15.86 JMD 2,494

389.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$21.62 JMD 3,400

106.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$40.73 JMD 6,405

186.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$53.5 JMD 8,409

111.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,839

$177 JMD 27.8K

291.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,226

$217 JMD 34.0K

113.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,505

$563 JMD 88.5K

134.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,056

$443 JMD 69.7K

74.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,455

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,840

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,787

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for May Pen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $177 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 92% 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 $1,813 in Tbilisi and $945 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $630 in May Pen – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $630 in May Pen versus $1,209 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 $630 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 92% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.