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: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,006 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,366 in May Pen.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 85% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$2.14 JMD 337

-11.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$3.84 JMD 606

-81.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$3.08 JMD 486

-37.99%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$3.32 JMD 524

-25.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$7.42 JMD 1,171

-16.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$5.10 JMD 805

87.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$1.61 JMD 254

-27.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$4.98 JMD 785

-66.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$6.43 JMD 1,014

-71.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$1.93 JMD 304

20.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$1.93 JMD 305

-63.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.83 JMD 288

-63.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$3.08 JMD 485

-61.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$2.84 JMD 448

-76.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$2.25 JMD 356

-29.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.88 JMD 139

-56.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.39 JMD 220

-21.58%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

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

$73.0 ₾191

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$42.49 JMD 6,705

-71.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$38.56 JMD 6,085

-53.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

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

$269 ₾705

$313 JMD 49.4K

-14.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$15.48 JMD 2,443

394.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$21.50 JMD 3,393

101.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$40.10 JMD 6,327

200.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$53.5 JMD 8,448

106.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$178 JMD 28.1K

285.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$221 JMD 34.8K

113.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$562 JMD 88.6K

140.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$432 JMD 68.1K

82.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for May Pen: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $178 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 85% 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 $1,796 in Tbilisi and $970 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: $687 in Tbilisi versus $178 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,197 per month in Tbilisi versus $646 in May Pen – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $646 in May Pen versus $1,197 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 $646 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 85% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.