😐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 – Tbilisi6% lower, Port Elizabeth10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.64
$11.37R 183
3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾99.0
$44.17R 709
-14.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.48
$6.12R 98.3
59.15%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.93
$2.13R 34.16
60.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.77
$1.10R 17.69
-3.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.80R 12.91
-18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.07
$2.84R 45.69
-4.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.10
$3.23R 51.9
-4.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.75
$1.22R 19.56
80.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.11
$1.09R 17.47
-25.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.28
$1.49R 24.00
10.07%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.20
$2.81R 45.09
-2.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.56
$9.08R 146
-0.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.13
$5.56R 89.4
17.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾33.00
$8.62R 138
46.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.37
$2.14R 34.44
-21.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.74
$1.59R 25.62
13.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.04
$1.68R 26.95
14.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.77
$1.77R 28.44
46.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$1.77R 28.50
-50.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.69
$1.42R 22.80
-54.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.64
$1.33R 21.32
4.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$1.04R 16.77
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.80
$3.37R 54.1
-0.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.71
$4.83R 77.5
56.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.22
$1.31R 21.03
22.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.87
$1.81R 29.05
24.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$1.18R 18.99
-68.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.52
$36.87R 592
-59.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.17R 34.93
-46.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.49R 7.81
63.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.63
$8.56R 138
32.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.48
$1.41R 22.68
-5.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.3K
$36.5KR 586.0K
-31.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.5K
$34.5KR 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
$125R 2,013
-28.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.64
$35.65R 573
-62.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.9
$46.87R 753
-58.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾179
$32.16R 517
112.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.86
$24.02R 386
-22.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.35
$10.92R 175
-39.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾951
$185R 2,974
96.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.9K
$6,340R 101.8K
68.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾271
$72.1R 1,158
43.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾102
$38.23R 614
1.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾305
$115R 1,841
1.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾321
$99.9R 1,604
22.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,785
$633R 10.2K
7.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,168
$429R 6,896
4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,358
$846R 13.6K
51.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,406
$704R 11.3K
30.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,504
$799R 12.8K
211.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,721
$545R 8,755
161.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,689
$1,641R 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.