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: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $319 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $931 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,542 in St John.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 290% more expensive than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, St John 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$19.87 $19.87

-42.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$177 $177

-78.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$6.91 $6.91

-50.65%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$2.94 $2.94

-64.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$1.95 $1.95

-67.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$7.99 $7.99

-67.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$8.02 $8.02

-59.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.54 $1.54

-13.64%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

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

$88.9 ₾231

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

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

$374 ₾971

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$13.3K $13.3K

-19.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$12.9K $12.9K

-81.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$5,032 $5,032

-87.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

7.05

79.01%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for St John: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 671% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $177 in St John for two.

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 290% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $319 including rent). St John is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 671% lower in St John. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in St John – a meal for two runs $177 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $319 in St John – a 290% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $319 in St John versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes St John 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 St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 290% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.