🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $3,098 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $5,842 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $8,587 in Philipsburg.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 62% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Philipsburg is 132% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₾29.35
$14.89ANG 26.57
-25.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$73.5ANG 131
-41.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.63
$7.97ANG 14.23
7.28%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$4.43ANG 7.90
-32.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$2.97ANG 5.30
-74.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$3.60ANG 6.42
-87.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.88
$3.03ANG 5.41
-26.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.73
$5.11ANG 9.12
-42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$3.06ANG 5.46
-35.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$3.18ANG 5.68
-77.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$2.99ANG 5.33
-39.13%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$6.58ANG 11.74
-62.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.27
$18.48ANG 32.99
-58.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.59
$16.83ANG 30.04
-62.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.14
$19.80ANG 35.34
-52.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$5.98ANG 10.67
-79.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.33
$5.92ANG 10.56
-72.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$9.35ANG 16.68
-80.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.02
$6.43ANG 11.47
-64.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$3.93ANG 7.02
-82.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$3.97ANG 7.08
-83.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$4.43ANG 7.90
-72.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$1.97ANG 3.52
-64.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.73
$7.78ANG 13.89
-62.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.42
$10.91ANG 19.47
-29.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$3.32ANG 5.93
-53.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$2.87ANG 5.11
-22.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$1.47ANG 2.62
-73.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.81
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$14.94ANG 26.67
-90.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$4.85ANG 8.66
-85.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.52
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.44ANG 2.56
-20.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$222ANG 397
-66.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.80
$32.97ANG 58.9
-64.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.65
$69.2ANG 123
-74.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$63.3ANG 113
-3.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.71
$12.75ANG 22.76
-47.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾699
$371ANG 662
-28.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
$11.1KANG 19.9K
-53.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,868
$1,970ANG 3,517
-64.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,221
$1,875ANG 3,347
-75.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,488
$5,726ANG 10.2K
-76.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,066
$5,589ANG 9,976
-86.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,517
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,727
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,779
$1,104ANG 1,970
-39.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.75
106.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $1,970 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Philipsburg pays 64% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $74.0 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $540 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 Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Philipsburg?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 163% lower than in Philipsburg. 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 Philipsburg?
On paper, Philipsburg earns 64% less. 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 vs Philipsburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $1,970 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Philipsburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 162% higher in Philipsburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Philipsburg?
All in, you'll spend $1,178 per month in Tbilisi versus $3,098 in Philipsburg – a 163% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Philipsburg?
At $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $3,098 in Philipsburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Philipsburg. 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 Philipsburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,178 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 Philipsburg?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Philipsburg 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 163% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.