Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sao Luis Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sao Luis

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $772 in Sao Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,171 in Sao Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,570 in Sao Luis.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 54% more expensive than in Sao Luis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Sao Luis 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$4.94 R$25.04
120.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$31.14 R$158
38.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$7.29 R$37.02
17.01%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$2.04 R$10.34
46.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$1.02 R$5.18
-20.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$0.59 R$2.99
-28.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$1.93 R$9.77
11.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$3.20 R$16.22
-10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.04 R$5.27
86.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.92 R$9.73
-64.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$1.03 R$5.21
79.61%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$1.93 R$9.82
31.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$9.11 R$46.23
-17.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$3.64 R$18.46
71.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$7.37 R$37.42
30.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$1.87 R$9.51
-37.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.26 R$6.42
30.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$0.96 R$4.85
95.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$1.36 R$6.91
63.97%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.16 R$5.87
-39.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$1.24 R$6.31
-48.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$0.73 R$3.73
61.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.58 R$2.93
20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.02 R$10.27
47.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$8.33 R$42.27
-10.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.11 R$5.64
38.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.98 R$10.03
15.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.80 R$4.04
-55.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$35.53 R$180
-58.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$0.86 R$4.38
65.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.50 R$2.53
38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$6.35 R$32.21
14.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$0.97 R$4.94
12.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$16.9K R$85.9K
8.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$25.1K R$127.6K
-18.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$82.4 R$418
-9.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$17.56 R$89.1
-33.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$16.07 R$81.5
9.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$18.64 R$94.6
223.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$15.37 R$78.0
5.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$6.07 R$30.78
7.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$203 R$1,031
32.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$4,350 R$22.1K
18.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$43.42 R$220
77.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$46.76 R$237
-7.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$53.0 R$269
123.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$54.9 R$279
105.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$391 R$1,985
81.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$209 R$1,060
122.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$512 R$2,599
156.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$297 R$1,509
157.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$1,483 R$7,527
68.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$720 R$3,652
100.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$377 R$1,913
75.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
10.92
8.88%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Sao Luis: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $391 in Sao Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 76% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $31.00 in Sao Luis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $179 per month, with Sao Luis 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 Luis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Sao Luis?
Tbilisi and Sao Luis differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $772 including rent). Sao Luis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Sao Luis?
Average pay runs 76% 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 do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Sao Luis?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $391 in Sao Luis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sao Luis – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $772 in Sao Luis versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sao Luis but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Luis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Sao Luis?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Sao Luis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sao Luis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Sao Luis?
Expats usually find Sao Luis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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