🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,320 in St. Thomas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $3,337 in St. Thomas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $4,355 in St. Thomas.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 49% less than in St. Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, St. Thomas is 73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$20.29CA$27.80
-45.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$75.1CA$103
-42.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$11.52CA$15.78
-28.65%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$3.48CA$4.77
-10.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.82CA$2.50
-59.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.74CA$2.38
-74.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$5.22CA$7.15
-59.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$5.83CA$7.98
-48.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$2.02CA$2.76
-6.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$2.67CA$3.66
-72.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$3.27CA$4.48
-43.43%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$3.08CA$4.22
-20.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$9.50CA$13.01
-17.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$11.38CA$15.59
-45.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$15.56CA$21.32
-37.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$4.01CA$5.49
-69.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.24CA$1.69
28.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$3.33CA$4.56
-46.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$3.74CA$5.12
-37.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$2.99CA$4.09
-76.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$2.52CA$3.45
-73.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$2.30CA$3.16
-48.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.48CA$2.03
-52.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$10.85CA$14.87
-73.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$13.11CA$17.96
-44.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.08CA$2.84
-25.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.48CA$3.40
-6.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$2.40CA$3.28
-84.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$63.5CA$87.0
-76.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.29CA$3.14
-35.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.75CA$2.39
-60.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$30.76CA$42.15
-75.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.10CA$1.51
4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$25.3KCA$34.6K
-28.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$20.2KCA$27.6K
-1.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$135CA$184
-45.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$54.1CA$74.2
-78.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$56.9CA$77.9
-68.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$41.82CA$57.3
44.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$11.18CA$15.31
-41.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$559CA$766
-53.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$11.0KCA$15.0K
-53.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$54.9CA$75.2
41.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$38.10CA$52.2
16.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$84.5CA$116
39.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$80.7CA$111
41.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$1,183CA$1,621
-41.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$1,158CA$1,586
-60.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$2,032CA$2,784
-34.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$1,846CA$2,529
-57.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$4,827CA$6,612
-47.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$3,741CA$5,124
-61.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
St. Thomas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$3,019CA$4,136
-79.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.55
81.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for St. Thomas: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,183 in St. Thomas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St. Thomas pays 377% 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 $75.0 in St. Thomas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $346 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. Thomas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and St. Thomas?
Tbilisi and St. Thomas differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $2,320 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, St. Thomas earns 377% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and St. Thomas?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,183 in St. Thomas. 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. Thomas?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $559 in St. Thomas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in St. Thomas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $2,320 in St. Thomas, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in St. Thomas. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and St. Thomas?
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. Thomas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and St. Thomas 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. Thomas?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in St. Thomas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.