Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and San Salvador

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,242 a month against $1,666 in San Salvador, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,242
/mo nomad
San Salvador
🇸🇻 El Salvador
$1,666
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in San Salvador

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in San Salvador actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $1,666 in San Salvador.

  • Tbilisi $1,242
  • San Salvador $1,666

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,962 in Tbilisi versus $2,465 in San Salvador.

  • Tbilisi $1,962
  • San Salvador $2,465

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,682 in Tbilisi versus $3,263 in San Salvador.

  • Tbilisi $2,682
  • San Salvador $3,263

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 25% less than in San Salvador, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, San Salvador is 24% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 ₾28.46
$6.72 $6.72
63.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.21 ₾99.0
$45.39 $45.39
-15.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 ₾24.84
$7.07 $7.07
35.50%
Cappuccino
$3.59 ₾9.31
$3.53 $3.53
1.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₾2.66
$1.13 $1.13
-8.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.64
$0.85 $0.85
-25.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ₾7.10
$2.04 $2.04
34.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ₾8.22
$3.51 $3.51
-9.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ₾5.53
$1.87 $1.87
13.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$2.89 $2.89
-74.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.46
$1.40 $1.40
22.86%
Eggs
$2.78 ₾7.21
$3.09 $3.09
-10.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.48 ₾24.56
$7.88 $7.88
20.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 ₾16.71
$6.93 $6.93
-6.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 ₾33.76
$10.05 $10.05
29.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 ₾4.37
$5.08 $5.08
-66.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.76
$1.39 $1.39
32.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₾4.90
$2.53 $2.53
-25.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 ₾6.22
$3.40 $3.40
-29.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.17
$2.87 $2.87
-70.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.75
$3.28 $3.28
-79.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.68
$0.97 $0.97
46.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.97 $0.97
-20.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 ₾9.22
$4.07 $4.07
-12.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ₾19.39
$12.21 $12.21
-38.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₾4.43
$2.19 $2.19
-21.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₾5.94
$2.86 $2.86
-19.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.04
$0.34 $0.34
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.15 ₾39.27
$37.66 $37.66
-59.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$6.04 $6.04
-80.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$3.03 $3.03
-74.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 ₾30.50
$20.11 $20.11
-41.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₾3.65
$1.29 $1.29
9.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K ₾62.9K
$24.8K $24.8K
-2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ₾56.3K
$27.0K $27.0K
-19.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 ₾227
$130 $130
-32.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.55
$21.57 $21.57
-38.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51 ₾50.6
$43.03 $43.03
-54.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.7 ₾168
$31.99 $31.99
102.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 ₾48.86
$21.57 $21.57
-12.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 ₾16.97
$5.06 $5.06
29.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾978
$165 $165
128.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.5K
$4,640 $4,640
129.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$68.2 $68.2
49.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36 ₾105
$46.79 $46.79
-13.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾302
$120 $120
-2.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₾314
$117 $117
3.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 ₾1,749
$906 $906
-25.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,170
$755 $755
-40.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 ₾3,305
$1,804 $1,804
-29.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 ₾2,288
$1,343 $1,343
-34.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,415 ₾6,259
$2,813 $2,813
-14.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,404 ₾3,640
$1,845 $1,845
-23.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
San Salvador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$706 ₾1,830
$372 $372
89.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
8.5
48.47%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 4, 2026

Last update for San Salvador: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
San Salvador
$755 67.3% $304
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$232
San Salvador
$287 23.3% $54
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$186
San Salvador
$142 23.6% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
San Salvador
$158 7.5% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$120
San Salvador
$195 61.9% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
San Salvador
$42 45.9% $36
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
San Salvador
$60 175% $38

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in Tbilisi and $906 in San Salvador. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 90% 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 $45.00 in San Salvador for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $287 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇸🇻 San Salvador
🕒 Local time
18:27 6:27 PM
08:27 8:27 AM
10 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
316,090 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi San Salvador 12,260 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • San Salvador

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or San Salvador?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in San Salvador. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in San Salvador?
Average pay runs 90% higher in Tbilisi, 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 compared to San Salvador?
Rent for a central apartment: $675 in Tbilisi versus $906 in San Salvador. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in San Salvador?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in San Salvador. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in San Salvador?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $45.00 in San Salvador. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in San Salvador?
At $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $1,666 in San Salvador, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in San Salvador. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or San Salvador?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,242 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to San Salvador?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and San Salvador 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in San Salvador. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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