😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,022 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,719 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,417 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 18% more than San Juan del Sur, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and San Juan del Sur are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, San Juan del Sur24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$4.25NIO 156
154.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$33.80NIO 1,238
27.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$5.52NIO 202
50.18%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$2.35NIO 86.0
27.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.85NIO 31.14
-3.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.68NIO 25.06
-32.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.30NIO 47.48
71.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.02NIO 73.9
44.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.26NIO 46.20
53.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.48NIO 54.1
-54.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.17NIO 42.88
60.68%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$1.96NIO 71.7
29.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$7.79NIO 285
-4.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$6.39NIO 234
-3.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$7.97NIO 292
17.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$3.85NIO 141
-68.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$0.84NIO 30.90
97.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.78NIO 65.1
1.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.26NIO 82.8
-0.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$3.14NIO 115
-77.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$2.17NIO 79.5
-69.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.01NIO 36.99
16.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.01NIO 36.93
-34.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.61NIO 95.4
14.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$9.65NIO 354
-21.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.46NIO 53.5
5.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$2.23NIO 81.9
0.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$1.47NIO 53.9
1.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$6.83NIO 250
5.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.25NIO 45.66
-8.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$22.9KNIO 838.0K
-19.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$25.9KNIO 948.6K
-22.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$41.71NIO 1,528
76.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$10.58NIO 388
10.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$36.56NIO 1,339
-51.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$29.69NIO 1,087
102.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$7.80NIO 286
-15.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$123NIO 4,505
116.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$5,973NIO 218.8K
-13.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$78.8NIO 2,884
-1.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$73.8NIO 2,702
-39.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$130NIO 4,761
-10.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$110NIO 4,025
2.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$461NIO 16.9K
50.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$409NIO 15.0K
12.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$955NIO 35.0K
38.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$958NIO 35.1K
-19.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$280NIO 10.2K
140.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
10.25
16.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for San Juan del Sur: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $461 in San Juan del Sur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 141% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $223 in San Juan del Sur – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Juan del Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and San Juan del Sur compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $1,022 in San Juan del Sur – roughly 18% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to San Juan del Sur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,532 in San Juan del Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and San Juan del Sur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan del Sur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan del Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,022, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In San Juan del Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and San Juan del Sur?
It depends on your priorities. San Juan del Sur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,022 in San Juan del Sur to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or San Juan del Sur safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and San Juan del Sur?
If budget matters most, go with San Juan del Sur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.