Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Port Elizabeth Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Port Elizabeth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,236 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,900 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,563 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 4% more than Port Elizabeth, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tbilisi and Port Elizabeth are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Port Elizabeth 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.64
$11.37 R 183
3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾99.0
$44.17 R 709
-14.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.48
$6.12 R 98.3
59.15%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.93
$2.13 R 34.16
60.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.77
$1.10 R 17.69
-3.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$0.80 R 12.91
-18.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.07
$2.84 R 45.69
-4.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.10
$3.23 R 51.9
-4.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.75
$1.22 R 19.56
80.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.11
$1.09 R 17.47
-25.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.28
$1.49 R 24.00
10.07%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.20
$2.81 R 45.09
-2.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.56
$9.08 R 146
-0.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.13
$5.56 R 89.4
17.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾33.00
$8.62 R 138
46.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.37
$2.14 R 34.44
-21.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.74
$1.59 R 25.62
13.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.04
$1.68 R 26.95
14.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.77
$1.77 R 28.44
46.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.77 R 28.50
-50.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$1.42 R 22.80
-54.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.64
$1.33 R 21.32
4.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$1.04 R 16.77
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.80
$3.37 R 54.1
-0.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.71
$4.83 R 77.5
56.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.22
$1.31 R 21.03
22.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.87
$1.81 R 29.05
24.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.18 R 18.99
-68.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.52
$36.87 R 592
-59.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$2.17 R 34.93
-46.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$0.49 R 7.81
63.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.63
$8.56 R 138
32.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.48
$1.41 R 22.68
-5.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.3K
$36.5K R 586.0K
-31.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.5K
$34.5K R 553.8K
-35.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾233
$125 R 2,013
-28.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.64
$35.65 R 573
-62.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.9
$46.87 R 753
-58.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾179
$32.16 R 517
112.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.86
$24.02 R 386
-22.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.35
$10.92 R 175
-39.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾951
$185 R 2,974
96.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.9K
$6,340 R 101.8K
68.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾271
$72.1 R 1,158
43.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾102
$38.23 R 614
1.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾305
$115 R 1,841
1.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾321
$99.9 R 1,604
22.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,785
$633 R 10.2K
7.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,168
$429 R 6,896
4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,358
$846 R 13.6K
51.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,406
$704 R 11.3K
30.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,504
$799 R 12.8K
211.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,721
$545 R 8,755
161.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,689
$1,641 R 26.4K
-60.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
11.94
6.62%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Port Elizabeth: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $633 in Port Elizabeth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 154% higher in Port Elizabeth, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $44.00 in Port Elizabeth. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $203 in Port Elizabeth – so Port Elizabeth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Port Elizabeth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Port Elizabeth?
Tbilisi costs about 4% more than Port Elizabeth, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Port Elizabeth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $1,854 in Port Elizabeth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Port Elizabeth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Elizabeth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Port Elizabeth?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Port Elizabeth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $44.00 in Port Elizabeth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Port Elizabeth?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Elizabeth, where all-in costs run around $1,236, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Port Elizabeth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Port Elizabeth?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Elizabeth costs $1,236 versus $1,286 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Port Elizabeth?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Port Elizabeth?
If budget matters most, go with Port Elizabeth. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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