🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,702 in Port Moresby.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $2,442 in Port Moresby.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $3,181 in Port Moresby.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 30% less than in Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Port Moresby is 27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$9.40PGK 41.38
15.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$48.47PGK 213
-9.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$5.87PGK 25.84
41.57%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.29PGK 10.09
29.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.80PGK 3.53
-3.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.78PGK 3.45
-41.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.45PGK 10.76
-12.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$4.13PGK 18.15
-30.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.93PGK 8.51
-1.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.60PGK 7.02
-55.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.49PGK 6.55
28.19%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$3.75PGK 16.49
-33.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$4.53PGK 19.91
70.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$6.22PGK 27.35
-0.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$9.76PGK 42.96
-1.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$4.07PGK 17.90
-71.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$2.82PGK 12.39
-41.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$5.70PGK 25.08
-67.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$5.41PGK 23.81
-56.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$3.25PGK 14.29
-78.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$2.78PGK 12.21
-75.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$3.08PGK 13.55
-61.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.27PGK 5.58
-48.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$6.99PGK 30.74
-58.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$11.86PGK 52.2
-35.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.82PGK 12.39
-43.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.83PGK 16.84
-39.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.50PGK 2.20
-24.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
$23.88PGK 105
-38.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$6.10PGK 26.85
-75.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$2.44PGK 10.73
-72.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$17.09PGK 75.2
-57.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.14PGK 5.00
-4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$22.3KPGK 98.2K
-16.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$24.9KPGK 109.4K
-17.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$108PGK 475
-32.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$47.63PGK 210
-74.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$377PGK 1,657
-95.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$66.5PGK 293
-8.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$20.71PGK 91.1
-20.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$9.84PGK 43.29
-31.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$633PGK 2,786
-57.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$4,013PGK 17.7K
28.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$31.33PGK 138
144.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$37.00PGK 163
17.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$76.2PGK 335
58.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$97.2PGK 428
13.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$2,203PGK 9,694
-68.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$478PGK 2,102
-1.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$3,447PGK 15.2K
-60.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$840PGK 3,694
-6.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$2,088PGK 9,188
18.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$3,904PGK 17.2K
-62.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$439PGK 1,932
50.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
13.33
-10.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $2,203 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $48.00 in Port Moresby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $306 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 Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Port Moresby?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Port Moresby. 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 Port Moresby?
Average pay runs 50% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Port Moresby?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $2,203 in Port Moresby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Port Moresby?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Port Moresby. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Port Moresby?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. 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 Port Moresby?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,702 in Port Moresby, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Port Moresby. 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 Port Moresby?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,197 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 Port Moresby?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Port Moresby 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 42% less than in Port Moresby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.