Cost of Living Comparison Between San Mateo, CA and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between San Mateo, CA and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,404 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $1,279 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,611 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $2,011 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,818 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $2,743 in Tbilisi, rent included.

San Mateo, CA costs about 244% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Mateo, CA sits 219% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$11.43 ₾29.72

73.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$38.16 ₾99.2

159.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.18 $13.18

$9.40 ₾24.45

40.21%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$3.38 ₾8.78

64.79%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$1.04 ₾2.70

185.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$0.60 ₾1.56

338.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.47 $8.47

$2.71 ₾7.05

212.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.05 $10.05

$3.04 ₾7.90

230.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.27 ₾5.90

-29.96%

White Bread (500g)

$5.78 $5.78

$0.79 ₾2.04

631.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$1.62 ₾4.21

281.48%

Eggs

$7.20 $7.20

$2.74 ₾7.13

162.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 $13.43

$9.30 ₾24.19

44.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.93 $18.93

$6.79 ₾17.65

178.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$13.01 ₾33.84

52.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$1.64 ₾4.27

268.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.83 ₾4.77

20.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.90 ₾4.94

116.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.67 $8.67

$2.57 ₾6.68

237.35%

Potato (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$0.84 ₾2.19

429.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$0.65 ₾1.70

386.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.36 ₾3.54

115.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.80 ₾2.07

142.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.59 $11.59

$3.40 ₾8.85

240.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.39 $14.39

$7.67 ₾19.94

87.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.68 ₾4.36

0.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.38 ₾6.18

-15.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.05 $4.05

$0.39 ₾1.02

938.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.7 $96.7

$15.55 ₾40.44

522.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$1.14 ₾2.96

259.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.74 ₾1.93

167.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.38 ₾3.60

5.07%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$24.6K ₾63.9K

50.72%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$22.0K ₾57.2K

19.80%

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

$251 $251

$88.7 ₾231

183.18%

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

$41.61 $41.61

$13.18 ₾34.26

215.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$19.68 ₾51.2

206.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 $110

$68.3 ₾177

60.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.44 $9.44

$17.94 ₾46.65

-47.38%

Cinema Ticket

$18.21 $18.21

$6.42 ₾16.70

183.64%

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

$2,947 $2,947

$372 ₾967

692.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$10.8K ₾28.1K

163.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 $62.7

$105 ₾272

-39.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 $46.95

$38.83 ₾101

20.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$115 ₾299

3.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$122 ₾318

9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,193 $3,193

$681 ₾1,770

369.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,797 $2,797

$456 ₾1,185

513.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,796 $5,796

$1,312 ₾3,410

341.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,107 $5,107

$892 ₾2,321

472.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K $13.9K

$2,391 ₾6,216

483.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,889 $8,889

$1,425 ₾3,704

523.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,351 $7,351

$640 ₾1,663

1049.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.96

12.62

-52.77%

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

Last update for San Mateo, CA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,193 in San Mateo, CA versus $681 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1049% higher in San Mateo, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in San Mateo, CA versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $521 vs $236 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

San Mateo, CA vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,404 in San Mateo, CA, $1,279 in Tbilisi – roughly 244% apart. San Mateo, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,606 per month in San Mateo, CA and $1,919 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 121% more in San Mateo, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in San Mateo, CA and $38.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in San Mateo, CA at $4,404. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Mateo, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Mateo, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,279 in Tbilisi to $4,404 in San Mateo, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Mateo, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.