Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and TbilisiCost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Tbilisi
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,091 in Calama versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Calama versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,094 in Calama versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.
πLiving in Calama costs roughly 10% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Calama19% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90CLPΒ 7,014
$10.80βΎ28.71
-26.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.27CLPΒ 29.5K
$43.18βΎ115
-22.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03CLPΒ 7,127
$8.29βΎ22.04
-3.14%
Cappuccino
$2.14CLPΒ 1,897
$3.00βΎ7.97
-28.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94CLPΒ 833
$0.82βΎ2.17
14.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96CLPΒ 850
$0.46βΎ1.21
108.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25CLPΒ 2,885
$2.23βΎ5.93
45.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05CLPΒ 3,599
$2.92βΎ7.75
38.70%
π Groceries & Markets
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17CLPΒ 1,042
$1.93βΎ5.12
-39.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58CLPΒ 1,400
$0.68βΎ1.81
132.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92CLPΒ 1,701
$1.88βΎ5.00
2.13%
Eggs
$3.57CLPΒ 3,172
$2.54βΎ6.74
40.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62CLPΒ 9,424
$7.42βΎ19.70
43.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.78CLPΒ 6,017
$6.19βΎ16.44
9.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08CLPΒ 9,833
$9.36βΎ24.87
18.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89CLPΒ 1,680
$1.22βΎ3.25
54.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51CLPΒ 1,340
$1.66βΎ4.40
-9.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60CLPΒ 1,422
$1.80βΎ4.78
-11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49CLPΒ 1,324
$2.24βΎ5.96
-33.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28CLPΒ 1,140
$0.71βΎ1.89
80.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40CLPΒ 1,240
$0.67βΎ1.79
108.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21CLPΒ 1,072
$1.18βΎ3.13
2.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19CLPΒ 1,056
$0.66βΎ1.76
80.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34CLPΒ 4,742
$2.98βΎ7.91
79.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19CLPΒ 5,497
$7.61βΎ20.22
-18.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55CLPΒ 1,379
$1.54βΎ4.08
0.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21CLPΒ 1,965
$2.25βΎ5.99
-1.78%
π Getting Around
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62CLPΒ 546
$0.36βΎ0.95
72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.44βΎ38.38
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47CLPΒ 420
$1.49βΎ3.97
-68.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52CLPΒ 1,345
$0.68βΎ1.82
123.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.23βΎ19.20
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57CLPΒ 1,397
$1.14βΎ3.04
37.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KCLPΒ 17.5M
$18.5KβΎ49.1K
6.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KCLPΒ 19.4M
$20.0KβΎ53.1K
9.35%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132CLPΒ 116.9K
$73.7βΎ196
78.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.64CLPΒ 12.1K
$11.64βΎ30.92
17.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20CLPΒ 19.7K
$17.84βΎ47.41
24.44%
π Sport & Entertainment
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.42CLPΒ 34.1K
$60.1βΎ160
-36.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.96CLPΒ 18.6K
$16.80βΎ44.65
24.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.76CLPΒ 5,113
$6.60βΎ17.55
-12.73%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433CLPΒ 383.9K
$266βΎ708
62.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,191βΎ13.8K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5CLPΒ 44.8K
$77.7βΎ206
-35.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.42CLPΒ 27.0K
$44.75βΎ119
-32.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.2CLPΒ 54.3K
$117βΎ310
-47.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1CLPΒ 73.7K
$113βΎ300
-26.42%
π Accommodation & Living
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356CLPΒ 316.0K
$693βΎ1,840
-48.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369CLPΒ 327.1K
$462βΎ1,227
-20.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861CLPΒ 764.2K
$1,320βΎ3,507
-34.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604CLPΒ 535.7K
$774βΎ2,057
-22.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,542CLPΒ 1.4M
$2,430βΎ6,458
-36.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,365CLPΒ 1.2M
$1,446βΎ3,842
-5.56%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Calama
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,240CLPΒ 1.1M
$673βΎ1,788
84.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.89
-56.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calama: June 1, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Calama and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Calama pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $203, 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 β 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 Tbilisi?
Calama pays 84% more on average, 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 vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $356 in Calama versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Calama or Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 14% 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 $1,091 per month in Calama versus $1,209 in Tbilisi β 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 Tbilisi?
At $1,091 in Calama versus $1,209 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,091 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 β expenses run 11% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.