😐A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,061 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,748 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,434 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 13% 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 Sur21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$4.25NIO 156
154.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$33.73NIO 1,235
30.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$5.54NIO 203
50.00%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.43NIO 88.8
22.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.79NIO 28.88
-2.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.67NIO 24.45
-31.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$1.33NIO 48.78
60.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.03NIO 74.5
41.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.26NIO 46.32
50.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.53NIO 56.0
-53.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.17NIO 42.74
63.25%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.87NIO 68.3
32.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$7.78NIO 285
-0.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$6.48NIO 237
-4.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$8.15NIO 298
17.42%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$4.00NIO 146
-70.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$0.83NIO 30.35
98.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.83NIO 67.2
1.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.17NIO 79.4
7.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$3.22NIO 118
-77.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$2.16NIO 79.2
-68.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.07NIO 39.10
11.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.06NIO 38.70
-37.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.71NIO 99.4
7.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$9.99NIO 366
-23.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.42NIO 51.9
11.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.21NIO 80.8
4.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.47NIO 53.8
2.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$6.85NIO 251
5.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.24NIO 45.37
-12.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$22.5KNIO 825.0K
-17.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$26.2KNIO 958.4K
-21.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$42.79NIO 1,567
70.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$10.45NIO 383
14.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$36.21NIO 1,326
-50.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$30.32NIO 1,111
101.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$8.10NIO 297
-17.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$123NIO 4,499
118.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$6,022NIO 220.5K
-14.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$75.9NIO 2,780
0.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$72.9NIO 2,668
-40.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$134NIO 4,914
-10.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$108NIO 3,951
2.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$464NIO 17.0K
47.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$402NIO 14.7K
16.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$962NIO 35.2K
40.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$961NIO 35.2K
-17.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$354NIO 13.0K
86.36%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for San Juan del Sur: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $464 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 86% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Tbilisi vs $226 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 in San Juan del Sur compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $1,061 in San Juan del Sur – roughly 13% 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,592 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 $44.00 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 $1,061, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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 $1,061 in San Juan del Sur to $1,197 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.