Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and TbilisiCost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Tbilisi
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,083 in Calama versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,617 in Calama versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Calama versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Calama costs roughly 10% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Calama19% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.15CLP 7,591
$10.82₾28.39
-24.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33CLP 31.0K
$43.85₾115
-23.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.90CLP 7,356
$8.31₾21.80
-4.93%
Cappuccino
$2.11CLP 1,963
$2.97₾7.78
-28.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98CLP 914
$0.77₾2.01
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93CLP 865
$0.46₾1.20
102.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29CLP 3,067
$2.14₾5.63
53.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15CLP 3,862
$2.87₾7.52
44.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23CLP 1,148
$1.90₾4.99
-35.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52CLP 1,419
$0.71₾1.86
114.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89CLP 1,756
$1.91₾5.00
-1.05%
Eggs
$3.51CLP 3,267
$2.48₾6.52
41.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.63CLP 9,897
$7.74₾20.29
37.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.53CLP 6,083
$6.18₾16.21
5.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08CLP 10.3K
$9.57₾25.12
15.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.90CLP 1,766
$1.17₾3.06
62.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51CLP 1,404
$1.65₾4.34
-8.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52CLP 1,419
$1.85₾4.84
-17.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45CLP 1,348
$2.33₾6.11
-37.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24CLP 1,153
$0.71₾1.85
74.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39CLP 1,297
$0.67₾1.76
107.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22CLP 1,141
$1.19₾3.12
2.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17CLP 1,091
$0.66₾1.72
77.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28CLP 4,921
$2.92₾7.65
80.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92CLP 5,512
$7.69₾20.18
-23.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60CLP 1,487
$1.59₾4.18
0.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22CLP 2,071
$2.31₾6.06
-3.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59CLP 548
$0.38₾1.01
55.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.76₾38.72
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51CLP 471
$1.50₾3.92
-66.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53CLP 1,420
$0.68₾1.77
125.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.26₾19.04
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54CLP 1,438
$1.09₾2.87
41.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KCLP 18.3M
$18.6K₾48.8K
5.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KCLP 20.2M
$20.5K₾53.7K
6.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131CLP 121.7K
$73.0₾192
78.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.71CLP 12.8K
$11.97₾31.41
14.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.29CLP 20.8K
$18.00₾47.22
23.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.39CLP 35.8K
$61.0₾160
-37.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.55CLP 20.1K
$16.52₾43.34
30.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.70CLP 5,309
$6.70₾17.58
-14.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$432CLP 402.4K
$269₾705
60.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,152₾13.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6CLP 47.1K
$76.5₾201
-33.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.49CLP 28.4K
$43.41₾114
-29.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.8CLP 58.5K
$120₾316
-47.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9CLP 77.1K
$111₾290
-25.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$352CLP 327.5K
$687₾1,803
-48.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$378CLP 351.8K
$470₾1,234
-19.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$847CLP 788.6K
$1,353₾3,550
-37.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$590CLP 549.4K
$789₾2,069
-25.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,467CLP 1.4M
$2,468₾6,473
-40.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,276CLP 1.2M
$1,456₾3,818
-12.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,160CLP 1.1M
$659₾1,729
75.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.89
-56.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calama: July 11, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $352 in Calama and $687 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Calama pays 76% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $205, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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
Calama vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Calama or Tbilisi?
Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Calama or in Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 76% higher in Calama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Calama compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $352 in Calama versus $687 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Calama or in Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Calama compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,083 per month in Calama versus $1,197 in Tbilisi – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Calama or in Tbilisi?
At $1,083 in Calama versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Calama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Calama or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Calama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,083 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calama hard to pass up.
How safe is Calama compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Calama and Tbilisi 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.