🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $3,125 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $6,156 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $9,187 in Philipsburg.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 60% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Philipsburg is 128% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$15.29ANG 27.30
-25.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$70.4ANG 126
-44.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$8.31ANG 14.82
14.56%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$4.23ANG 7.55
-19.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$2.82ANG 5.03
-63.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$3.94ANG 7.03
-83.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.96ANG 5.28
-11.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$6.42ANG 11.47
-49.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$2.93ANG 5.23
-25.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$2.64ANG 4.70
-71.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$2.51ANG 4.48
-31.87%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$6.49ANG 11.59
-56.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$18.68ANG 33.34
-50.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$14.20ANG 25.34
-52.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$14.91ANG 26.62
-14.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$5.09ANG 9.09
-67.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$5.07ANG 9.04
-65.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$8.83ANG 15.77
-78.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$7.65ANG 13.66
-68.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$3.90ANG 6.96
-77.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$4.11ANG 7.33
-84.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$5.13ANG 9.15
-72.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.29ANG 2.31
-42.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$7.76ANG 13.86
-56.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$10.90ANG 19.45
-30.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$5.15ANG 9.19
-66.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$2.29ANG 4.09
-84.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$1.53ANG 2.74
896.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$14.82ANG 26.45
-92.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
-
-
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
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$149ANG 265
-40.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$32.43ANG 57.9
-58.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$65.6ANG 117
-69.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$62.0ANG 111
10.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$10.88ANG 19.42
-38.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$250ANG 447
49.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$12.0KANG 21.5K
-11.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$2,158ANG 3,852
-68.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$1,998ANG 3,566
-77.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$6,575ANG 11.7K
-80.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$6,605ANG 11.8K
-86.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$1,128ANG 2,014
-42.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
5
152.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $2,158 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Philipsburg pays 73% 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 $70.0 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $496 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 151% 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 in Philipsburg?
On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Philipsburg. 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 Philipsburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $2,158 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Philipsburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 114% higher in Philipsburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Philipsburg?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $70.0 in Philipsburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Philipsburg?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $3,125 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 $1,247 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 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 151% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.