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: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $860 in Sao Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,310 in Sao Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,760 in Sao Luis.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 45% more expensive than in Sao Luis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Sao Luis 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$6.17 R$31.80
83.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$38.42 R$198
0.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$6.90 R$35.54
37.97%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$2.11 R$10.87
61.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.24 R$6.39
-16.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.65 R$3.33
-1.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$1.90 R$9.76
37.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$2.35 R$12.12
37.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.08 R$5.56
100.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$1.95 R$10.03
-62.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$1.12 R$5.79
52.68%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$2.17 R$11.18
30.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$9.66 R$49.75
-4.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$4.21 R$21.67
60.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$7.56 R$38.95
68.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$2.09 R$10.74
-21.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.40 R$7.22
26.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$1.22 R$6.29
53.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$1.64 R$8.47
48.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$1.35 R$6.97
-35.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.30 R$6.67
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$0.82 R$4.25
70.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.76 R$3.94
-2.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$2.37 R$12.21
43.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$8.04 R$41.40
-5.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.26 R$6.49
34.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$2.18 R$11.23
9.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$0.80 R$4.14
-55.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$37.23 R$192
-59.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$0.94 R$4.83
25.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.86 R$4.41
-11.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$1.17 R$6.05
13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$23.3K R$119.8K
6.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$29.6K R$152.5K
-25.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$95.0 R$489
-6.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$17.04 R$87.8
-21.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$20.60 R$106
-2.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$20.06 R$103
242.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.01
$14.84 R$76.5
21.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$7.56 R$38.93
-11.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$221 R$1,139
68.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$4,670 R$24.1K
129.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$48.06 R$248
110.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$50.7 R$261
-22.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$58.0 R$299
102.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$58.2 R$300
110.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$348 R$1,794
95.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$227 R$1,170
101.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,385
$567 R$2,919
129.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$321 R$1,653
180.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,365
$1,476 R$7,606
65.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,774
$700 R$3,609
107.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sao Luis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$382 R$1,970
70.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
0
-

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sao Luis: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $348 in Sao Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 71% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $38.00 in Sao Luis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $194 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 45% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $860 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 71% 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $348 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 20% 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 $38.00 versus $39.00 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 $860 in Sao Luis versus $1,247 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 45% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities