🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,689 in Port Moresby.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $2,472 in Port Moresby.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $3,255 in Port Moresby.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 28% 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 26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$9.84PGK 42.81
9.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$47.81PGK 208
-9.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$5.94PGK 25.84
39.56%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.29PGK 9.98
31.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.75PGK 3.28
9.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.83PGK 3.62
-44.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.37PGK 10.32
-5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$4.15PGK 18.05
-29.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$2.00PGK 8.69
-3.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.56PGK 6.78
-56.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.49PGK 6.46
26.17%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$3.89PGK 16.90
-34.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$4.56PGK 19.82
62.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$6.41PGK 27.89
-3.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$9.34PGK 40.60
0.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$3.98PGK 17.29
-69.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.89PGK 12.59
-42.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$5.58PGK 24.27
-67.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$5.66PGK 24.60
-60.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$3.40PGK 14.77
-79.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$2.68PGK 11.67
-75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$2.96PGK 12.85
-60.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.32PGK 5.73
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$6.67PGK 29.01
-55.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$11.88PGK 51.7
-35.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.88PGK 12.55
-46.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$3.82PGK 16.60
-41.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.47PGK 2.03
-23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$23.77PGK 103
-39.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$5.85PGK 25.45
-74.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$2.40PGK 10.46
-71.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$16.49PGK 71.7
-56.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.14PGK 4.97
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$22.9KPGK 99.6K
-19.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$24.6KPGK 107.0K
-18.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$105PGK 456
-29.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$46.75PGK 203
-75.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$382PGK 1,663
-95.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$67.2PGK 292
-10.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$20.62PGK 89.7
-18.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$9.73PGK 42.32
-32.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$639PGK 2,779
-58.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$4,095PGK 17.8K
26.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$31.07PGK 135
150.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$36.74PGK 160
21.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$77.1PGK 335
51.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$98.6PGK 429
14.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$2,151PGK 9,354
-67.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$481PGK 2,090
-3.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$3,423PGK 14.9K
-61.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$826PGK 3,593
-6.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$2,127PGK 9,249
14.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$3,892PGK 16.9K
-62.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$446PGK 1,939
50.88%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $2,151 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $48.00 in Port Moresby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $308 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 40% 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 Port Moresby?
Tbilisi pays 51% more on average, 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 vs Port Moresby?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $2,151 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 Port Moresby?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% 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 vs Port Moresby?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 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 Port Moresby?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,689 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 $1,209 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 40% less than in Port Moresby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.