🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,567 in Sao Joao da Madeira.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $2,172 in Sao Joao da Madeira.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $2,777 in Sao Joao da Madeira.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 22% less than in Sao Joao da Madeira, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Sao Joao da Madeira is 17% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$10.45€9.00
3.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$20.89€18.00
111.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$8.28€7.14
-
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$1.19€1.03
153.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.17€1.01
-35.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$1.02€0.88
-54.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.36€2.03
-5.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$2.35€2.02
27.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$0.96€0.83
101.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.34€0.29
111.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.13€0.98
62.83%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$2.88€2.48
-14.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$8.93€7.69
-16.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$5.93€5.11
9.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$7.12€6.14
36.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$2.07€1.79
-42.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.55€1.34
0.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.94€1.67
-7.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$2.93€2.53
-23.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.38€1.19
-52.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.86€1.60
-63.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$1.65€1.42
-27.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.95€0.82
-26.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$6.01€5.18
-50.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$6.08€5.24
20.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$1.11€0.95
36.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$2.62€2.25
-14.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$2.33€2.00
-84.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$41.35€35.63
-64.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$4.43€3.81
-66.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$1.25€1.08
-41.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$14.46€12.46
-48.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.89€1.63
-39.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$38.2K€32.9K
-51.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$39.7K€34.2K
-48.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$136€117
-45.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$21.38€18.42
-45.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$41.36€35.63
-56.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$39.11€33.70
57.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$5.82€5.01
13.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$352€304
-25.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$8,257€7,115
-37.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$75.0€64.6
-0.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$34.18€29.45
28.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$91.2€78.6
28.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$158€136
-27.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$920€792
-24.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$738€636
-38.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$1,483€1,278
-10.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$1,136€979
-30.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$3,250€2,800
-25.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$2,627€2,263
-45.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sao Joao da Madeira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$1,079€930
-40.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.43
118.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Sao Joao da Madeira: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $920 in Sao Joao da Madeira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sao Joao da Madeira pays 67% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $21.00 in Sao Joao da Madeira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $198 per month, with Sao Joao da Madeira cheaper across the board.
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 Sao Joao da Madeira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Joao da Madeira cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Sao Joao da Madeira?
On paper, Sao Joao da Madeira earns 67% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Sao Joao da Madeira?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $920 in Sao Joao da Madeira. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Sao Joao da Madeira?
Shoppers in Sao Joao da Madeira pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Sao Joao da Madeira?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $21.00 in Sao Joao da Madeira. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Sao Joao da Madeira?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,567 in Sao Joao da Madeira, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Sao Joao da Madeira. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Sao Joao da Madeira more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sao Joao da Madeira, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Sao Joao da Madeira?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sao Joao da Madeira 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Sao Joao da Madeira. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.