😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,003 in St Francis Bay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,569 in St Francis Bay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,134 in St Francis Bay.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 18% more expensive than St Francis Bay, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, St Francis Bay25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$8.29R 139
34.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$33.26R 558
29.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$4.80R 80.5
71.25%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.06R 34.54
51.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.04R 17.37
-28.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.81R 13.57
-44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.30R 38.58
-7.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.46R 41.33
21.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.12R 18.78
68.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.05R 17.63
-30.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.64R 27.44
12.80%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.39R 40.13
2.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$7.87R 132
-0.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$4.61R 77.4
35.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$6.88R 115
42.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.65R 27.74
-26.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.51R 25.37
5.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.55R 25.94
15.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.59R 26.68
45.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.36R 22.81
-47.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.22R 20.53
-45.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.05R 17.56
12.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.98R 16.51
-27.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$2.76R 46.36
5.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$4.86R 81.5
49.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.34R 22.43
15.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.66R 27.91
39.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$1.69R 28.34
-77.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.13R 19.02
30.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.96R 16.17
-28.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$4.14R 69.4
79.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.28R 21.52
-10.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$21.6KR 362.8K
-16.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$23.4KR 393.0K
-15.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$119R 1,998
-38.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$35.75R 600
-67.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$41.17R 690
-56.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$30.49R 511
98.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$11.03R 185
49.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$6.61R 111
-1.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$193R 3,243
35.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$4,310R 72.3K
19.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$49.76R 835
56.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$31.85R 534
39.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$88.8R 1,489
32.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$79.7R 1,336
43.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$367R 6,147
89.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$336R 5,636
37.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$685R 11.5K
95.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$702R 11.8K
10.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$673R 11.3K
275.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$590R 9,895
142.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
St Francis Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
11.51
3.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for St Francis Bay: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $367 in St Francis Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $33.00 in St Francis Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $179 per month, with St Francis Bay 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 St Francis Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and St Francis Bay?
Tbilisi and St Francis Bay differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,003 including rent). St Francis Bay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to St Francis Bay?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,505 in St Francis Bay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and St Francis Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $367 in St Francis Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and St Francis Bay?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $193 in St Francis Bay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in St Francis Bay – a meal for two runs $33.00 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 $1,003 in St Francis Bay versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St Francis Bay but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes St Francis Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and St Francis Bay?
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 St Francis Bay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and St Francis Bay 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 St Francis Bay?
Expats usually find St Francis Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.