😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $925 in Portoviejo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $1,461 in Portoviejo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $1,996 in Portoviejo.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 27% more expensive than Portoviejo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Portoviejo31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₾29.35
$3.51$3.51
215.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$46.81$46.81
-7.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.63
$7.99$7.99
7.01%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$2.53$2.53
17.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$0.85$0.85
-10.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.66$0.66
-30.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.88
$2.92$2.92
-23.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.73
$4.46$4.46
-34.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$1.14$1.14
72.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$1.75$1.75
-58.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$1.72$1.72
5.81%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$2.56$2.56
-2.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.27
$5.95$5.95
28.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.59
$5.12$5.12
22.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.14
$6.32$6.32
50.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$2.11$2.11
-41.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.33
$1.04$1.04
57.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$1.10$1.10
70.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.02
$1.08$1.08
110.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$1.87$1.87
-64.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.44$1.44
-53.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$0.68$0.68
79.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$0.99$0.99
-29.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.73
$5.90$5.90
-50.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.42
$12.04$12.04
-35.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$1.55$1.55
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$2.15$2.15
3.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.33$0.33
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.81
$24.31$24.31
-39.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$2.73$2.73
-47.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.98$0.98
-29.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.52
$10.20$10.20
-27.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$0.67$0.67
70.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.1K
$24.7K$24.7K
-26.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
$29.2K$29.2K
-29.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$38.02$38.02
93.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.80
$13.49$13.49
-13.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.65
$31.38$31.38
-43.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$30.07$30.07
104.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.59
$14.88$14.88
13.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.71
$7.65$7.65
-12.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾699
$314$314
-15.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
$5,903$5,903
-12.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
$51.4$51.4
46.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
$43.20$43.20
0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
$103$103
13.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
$112$112
-0.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,868
$348$348
102.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,221
$320$320
44.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,488
$614$614
114.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,066
$496$496
57.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,517
$1,198$1,198
105.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,727
$788$788
78.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Portoviejo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,779
$319$319
110.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9.35
27.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026
Last update for Portoviejo: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $348 in Portoviejo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 111% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $47.00 in Portoviejo. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $194, with Portoviejo 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 Portoviejo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Portoviejo?
Portoviejo wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Portoviejo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Portoviejo?
Tbilisi pays 111% 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 Portoviejo?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $348 in Portoviejo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Portoviejo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Portoviejo?
Dining out is cheaper in Portoviejo – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $43.00 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 Portoviejo?
At $925 in Portoviejo versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Portoviejo but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Portoviejo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Portoviejo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Portoviejo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $925 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Portoviejo hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Portoviejo?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Portoviejo 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 Portoviejo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.