🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,018 in Sault Ste. Marie.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Tbilisi versus $3,022 in Sault Ste. Marie.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Tbilisi versus $4,025 in Sault Ste. Marie.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 40% less than in Sault Ste. Marie, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Sault Ste. Marie is 50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78₾29.00
$17.00CA$23.29
-36.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10₾116
$73.7CA$101
-41.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27₾22.24
$9.86CA$13.51
-16.13%
Cappuccino
$2.95₾7.94
$3.45CA$4.73
-14.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.05
$1.76CA$2.42
-56.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.13
$1.31CA$1.79
-67.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾6.03
$4.44CA$6.09
-49.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.71
$5.40CA$7.40
-46.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.19
$2.68CA$3.67
-27.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.84
$2.25CA$3.08
-69.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.97
$3.95CA$5.41
-53.16%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.69
$2.96CA$4.05
-15.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54₾20.27
$8.94CA$12.25
-15.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35₾17.09
$10.45CA$14.31
-39.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.43₾25.38
$11.34CA$15.53
-16.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18₾3.16
$3.14CA$4.31
-62.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58₾4.26
$1.16CA$1.59
36.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86₾5.00
$2.95CA$4.04
-36.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾6.03
$3.53CA$4.84
-36.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66₾1.79
$2.19CA$3.00
-69.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.83
$1.64CA$2.25
-58.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.17
$2.60CA$3.56
-54.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.77
$1.58CA$2.17
-58.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07₾8.25
$11.89CA$16.28
-74.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56₾20.34
$11.07CA$15.16
-31.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.08
$1.94CA$2.66
-21.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29₾6.15
$2.46CA$3.36
-6.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35₾0.95
$2.42CA$3.32
-85.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.79₾39.78
$59.6CA$81.7
-75.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45₾3.90
$3.55CA$4.86
-59.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.90CA$2.61
-61.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35₾19.78
$24.15CA$33.09
-69.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.93
$1.11CA$1.52
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K₾49.5K
$24.8KCA$34.0K
-25.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾54.5K
$20.0KCA$27.4K
1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.3₾197
$170CA$233
-56.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.72₾31.53
$41.86CA$57.4
-72.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87₾48.08
$70.0CA$95.9
-74.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2₾165
$32.54CA$44.58
88.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34₾43.94
$18.28CA$25.04
-10.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59₾17.73
$12.68CA$17.37
-48.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261₾702
$510CA$698
-48.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,156₾13.9K
$5,214CA$7,143
-1.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1₾205
$47.18CA$64.6
61.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83₾118
$36.92CA$50.6
18.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121₾325
$61.9CA$84.9
94.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾304
$121CA$166
-6.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696₾1,873
$910CA$1,246
-23.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,226
$897CA$1,228
-49.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,301₾3,500
$1,496CA$2,050
-13.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768₾2,067
$1,506CA$2,063
-48.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,500₾6,725
$1,893CA$2,593
32.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,432₾3,853
$5,621CA$7,701
-74.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$653₾1,756
$3,066CA$4,201
-78.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.67
78.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 13, 2026
Last update for Sault Ste. Marie: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Tbilisi and $910 in Sault Ste. Marie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sault Ste. Marie pays 370% 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 in Tbilisi vs $74 in Sault Ste. Marie for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $318 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Sault Ste. Marie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sault Ste. Marie cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Sault Ste. Marie?
On paper, Sault Ste. Marie earns 370% 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 Sault Ste. Marie?
Rent for a central apartment: $696 in Tbilisi versus $910 in Sault Ste. Marie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Sault Ste. Marie?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $74.0 in Sault Ste. Marie. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Sault Ste. Marie?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $2,018 in Sault Ste. Marie – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Sault Ste. Marie?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,018 in Sault Ste. Marie, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Sault Ste. Marie. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Sault Ste. Marie more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sault Ste. Marie, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Sault Ste. Marie?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sault Ste. Marie 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 66% less than in Sault Ste. Marie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.