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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $762 in Sao Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,168 in Sao Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,574 in Sao Luis.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 60% more expensive than Sao Luis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Sao Luis 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$4.99 R$25.26
117.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$30.58 R$155
44.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$7.16 R$36.24
15.64%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.04 R$10.34
48.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.95 R$4.79
-20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.59 R$3.00
-22.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$1.87 R$9.48
19.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$3.33 R$16.86
-9.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.03 R$5.21
87.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.85 R$9.36
-61.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$1.01 R$5.13
82.18%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.85 R$9.38
32.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$9.20 R$46.59
-19.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$3.64 R$18.43
78.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$7.42 R$37.57
30.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$1.86 R$9.43
-35.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.26 R$6.37
23.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.03 R$5.19
73.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$1.36 R$6.90
63.97%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$1.11 R$5.63
-41.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$1.24 R$6.26
-45.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$0.73 R$3.71
63.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.61 R$3.08
14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$2.01 R$10.17
46.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$7.89 R$39.95
-7.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$1.12 R$5.66
35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.96 R$9.90
14.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.79 R$4.02
-54.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$35.39 R$179
-58.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.92 R$4.68
63.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.53 R$2.67
37.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$6.54 R$33.11
13.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.00 R$5.07
14.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$16.8K R$85.2K
10.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$24.9K R$126.1K
-18.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$84.5 R$428
-12.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$17.37 R$87.9
-32.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$16.28 R$82.4
11.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$18.19 R$92.1
239.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$15.44 R$78.2
7.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$6.25 R$31.66
5.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$206 R$1,044
28.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$4,293 R$21.7K
19.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$43.68 R$221
71.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$47.00 R$238
-6.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$53.8 R$273
118.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$53.0 R$268
114.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$386 R$1,953
79.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$209 R$1,061
116.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$513 R$2,597
157.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$302 R$1,530
160.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$1,489 R$7,538
63.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$693 R$3,509
107.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$370 R$1,873
74.32%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Sao Luis: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $386 in Sao Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 74% 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 $31.00 in Sao Luis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $177 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 Sao Luis?
Tbilisi and Sao Luis differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $762 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?
Tbilisi pays 74% more on average, 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 Sao Luis?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $386 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 15% 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 $44.00 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 $762 in Sao Luis versus $1,218 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 60% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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