Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and San José Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and San José

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $938 in San José.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,487 in San José.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $2,035 in San José.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 33% more expensive than in San José, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, San José 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$15.07 UYU 605

-24.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$36.52 UYU 1,467

6.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$12.26 UYU 493

-22.35%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$4.95 UYU 199

-31.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$2.46 UYU 98.7

-57.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$2.52 UYU 101

-74.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$3.64 UYU 146

-28.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$5.51 UYU 221

-41.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.05 UYU 42.14

106.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$2.00 UYU 80.5

-63.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.52 UYU 60.9

12.50%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.53 UYU 102

11.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.94

$12.28 UYU 493

-24.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$7.49 UYU 301

-9.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.16

$11.68 UYU 469

9.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$1.21 UYU 48.40

35.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.53 UYU 61.6

15.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.23 UYU 49.25

52.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.46 UYU 58.5

67.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.01 UYU 40.69

-13.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.21 UYU 48.50

-46.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.63

$1.52 UYU 60.9

-7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$1.94 UYU 78.1

-61.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$9.82 UYU 394

-65.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$8.19 UYU 329

-7.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$3.15 UYU 127

-46.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.19

$3.38 UYU 136

-29.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$3.57 UYU 143

-66.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$3.49 UYU 140

-78.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$10.19 UYU 409

11.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$2.13 UYU 85.4

-37.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$35.4K UYU 1.4M

-30.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$39.5K UYU 1.6M

-44.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

$116 UYU 4,646

-23.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.62

$24.02 UYU 965

-44.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$48.10 UYU 1,932

-58.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾46.99

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$12.57 UYU 505

-46.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾970

$499 UYU 20.0K

-25.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$6,612 UYU 265.6K

61.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$89.5 UYU 3,595

13.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$37.29 UYU 1,498

5.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$165 UYU 6,633

-28.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$117 UYU 4,686

4.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,772

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,336

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,363

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,694

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

152.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for San José: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $37.00 in San José. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $257, with Tbilisi 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 San José: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San José wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San José the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $1,407 in San José to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $938 in San José – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $938 in San José versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San José but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes San José the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San José delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $938 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San José hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and San José are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San José gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.