😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,022 in Port Shepstone.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $1,602 in Port Shepstone.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $2,182 in Port Shepstone.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 25% more expensive than in Port Shepstone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi7% lower, Port Shepstone26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$7.84R 127
45.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$38.65R 625
-1.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$6.15R 99.5
52.85%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$2.87R 46.50
17.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$1.12R 18.20
-7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.88R 14.22
-31.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.47R 39.99
9.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$2.60R 42.13
16.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$0.97R 15.74
134.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$0.67R 10.89
17.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$1.27R 20.58
27.56%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$1.48R 24.01
85.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$7.59R 123
22.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$3.74R 60.5
81.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$7.12R 115
82.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$1.24R 19.99
32.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$0.77R 12.48
137.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$0.65R 10.56
192.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.51R 24.49
70.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$0.62R 9.96
35.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.43R 23.13
-54.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.97R 15.65
40.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.66R 10.67
21.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$3.82R 61.8
-10.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$5.05R 81.7
51.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.52R 24.62
10.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$1.93R 31.18
23.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$1.35R 21.87
-71.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$0.45R 7.36
153.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.74R 11.90
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$8.03R 130
40.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.36R 22.06
1.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$37.4KR 604.8K
-34.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$32.3KR 522.7K
-31.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$125R 2,020
-28.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$18.92R 306
-30.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$36.98R 598
-46.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$33.80R 547
101.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$6.96R 113
-7.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$335R 5,423
10.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$7,918R 128.1K
36.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$55.7R 900
87.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$30.89R 500
25.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$98.9R 1,600
16.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$90.3R 1,460
35.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$386R 6,244
76.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$346R 5,593
31.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$899R 14.5K
45.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$763R 12.3K
17.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$784R 12.7K
204.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$653R 10.6K
118.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Port Shepstone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$3,172R 51.3K
-79.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
11.81
6.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Port Shepstone: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $386 in Port Shepstone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Shepstone pays 396% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $39.00 in Port Shepstone. Groceries flip the comparison at $236 vs $149, with Port Shepstone cheaper for home cooking.
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 Shepstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Port Shepstone?
Port Shepstone wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Port Shepstone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Port Shepstone?
On paper, salaries run 396% lower in Port Shepstone. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Port Shepstone?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $386 in Port Shepstone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Port Shepstone?
Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $335 in Port Shepstone. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Port Shepstone?
Dining out is cheaper in Port Shepstone – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Port Shepstone?
At $1,022 in Port Shepstone versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Shepstone but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Port Shepstone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Port Shepstone?
Both work as nomad bases, but Port Shepstone delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,022 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Port Shepstone hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Port Shepstone?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Port Shepstone 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 Port Shepstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.