🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,520 in Port Moresby.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $2,391 in Port Moresby.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $3,262 in Port Moresby.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 18% less than in Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Port Moresby is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$7.72PGK 33.55
46.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$45.79PGK 199
-15.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$5.78PGK 25.10
64.71%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.47PGK 10.72
38.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.75PGK 3.24
38.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.69PGK 3.01
-7.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$3.06PGK 13.30
-14.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$3.69PGK 16.05
-12.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.88PGK 8.18
15.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$1.53PGK 6.63
-51.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.45PGK 6.29
17.93%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$3.62PGK 15.72
-21.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$8.90PGK 38.67
3.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$5.17PGK 22.45
30.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$9.10PGK 39.54
40.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$4.12PGK 17.92
-60.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$3.07PGK 13.35
-42.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$5.85PGK 25.44
-68.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$6.15PGK 26.74
-60.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$3.29PGK 14.30
-73.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$2.60PGK 11.29
-75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$2.09PGK 9.09
-33.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.25PGK 5.43
-40.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$6.17PGK 26.81
-44.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$11.58PGK 50.3
-34.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$2.75PGK 11.97
-38.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$3.44PGK 14.97
-30.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.43PGK 1.89
-16.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$22.32PGK 97.0
-31.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$5.70PGK 24.75
-79.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$2.27PGK 9.88
-66.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$15.46PGK 67.2
-26.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$0.99PGK 4.32
34.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$21.5KPGK 93.4K
15.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$17.9KPGK 77.6K
23.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$121PGK 525
-26.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$23.52PGK 102
-43.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$94.5PGK 410
-78.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$61.0PGK 265
12.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
$22.17PGK 96.3
-18.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$9.21PGK 40.02
-27.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$855PGK 3,714
-56.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$6,169PGK 26.8K
73.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$32.67PGK 142
209.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$32.53PGK 141
20.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$137PGK 595
-14.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$165PGK 716
-25.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$1,633PGK 7,096
-58.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$556PGK 2,414
-17.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$2,740PGK 11.9K
-52.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$1,155PGK 5,018
-22.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
$2,043PGK 8,879
19.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
$3,781PGK 16.4K
-61.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$429PGK 1,863
52.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
12.17
3.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $1,633 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $46.00 in Port Moresby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $310 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 22% 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 52% 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $1,633 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 33% 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 $39.00 versus $46.00 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 $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,520 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 $1,247 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 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 22% less than in Port Moresby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.