Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and St John Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and St John

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $3,105 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $4,790 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $6,476 in St John.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 62% less than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, St John is 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

$17.56 $17.56

-36.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

$161 $161

-73.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

$8.60 $8.60

-4.42%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

$6.38 $6.38

-50.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾2.00

$3.02 $3.02

-75.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

$2.05 $2.05

-78.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

$6.32 $6.32

-66.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

$7.12 $7.12

-58.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₾5.09

$2.85 $2.85

-33.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$5.88 $5.88

-87.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

$1.46 $1.46

26.71%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.58

$6.22 $6.22

-60.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

$17.40 $17.40

-54.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

$26.03 $26.03

-75.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₾26.28

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₾3.26

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

$4.92 $4.92

-67.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₾6.25

$8.88 $8.88

-73.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$4.39 $4.39

-84.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$4.92 $4.92

-76.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₾1.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 ₾19.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.21

$5.90 $5.90

-60.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

$5.84 $5.84

-93.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

$140 $140

-89.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

$3.04 $3.04

-77.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

$1.61 $1.61

-28.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K ₾48.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.8K ₾53.4K

$23.3K $23.3K

-14.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.4 ₾198

$243 $243

-69.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾31.32

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

$61.1 $61.1

-70.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$263 ₾707

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

$13.7K $13.7K

-62.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

$98.7 $98.7

-21.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

$60.0 $60.0

-26.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

$50.9 $50.9

131.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

$50.5 $50.5

125.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

$2,217 $2,217

-68.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

$1,799 $1,799

-74.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

$2,996 $2,996

-73.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

$13.2K $13.2K

-80.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

$4,039 $4,039

-84.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

7.05

68.65%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for St John: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $2,217 in St John. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St John pays 538% 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 $161 in St John for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $415 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 St John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and St John differ by about 162% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $3,105 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, St John earns 538% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $2,217 in St John. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 102% higher in St John. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $3,105 in St John – a 162% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $3,105 in St John, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in St John. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and St John are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 162% less than in St John. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.