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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,458 in San Rafael, CA versus $1,178 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,640 in San Rafael, CA versus $1,848 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,822 in San Rafael, CA versus $2,518 in Tbilisi.

Living in San Rafael, CA is roughly 278% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Rafael, CA is 234% above, Tbilisi is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.67 $22.67

$11.09 ₾29.35

104.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 $64.8

$43.24 ₾114

49.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 $10.81

$8.55 ₾22.63

26.43%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$2.97 ₾7.86

91.58%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$0.76 ₾2.01

255.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.46 ₾1.22

434.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$2.22 ₾5.88

166.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.71 $9.71

$2.92 ₾7.73

232.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.97 ₾5.21

-34.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$0.73 ₾1.94

447.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$1.82 ₾4.81

276.37%

Eggs

$4.49 $4.49

$2.49 ₾6.60

80.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.36 $15.36

$7.66 ₾20.27

100.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.12 $13.12

$6.27 ₾16.59

109.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.34 $18.34

$9.50 ₾25.14

93.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$1.23 ₾3.24

292.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.64 ₾4.33

79.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$1.87 ₾4.95

224.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$2.27 ₾6.02

269.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$0.67 ₾1.77

480.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$0.67 ₾1.79

464.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.22 ₾3.23

103.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$0.70 ₾1.85

321.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$2.92 ₾7.73

269.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.72 $13.72

$7.72 ₾20.42

77.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.55 ₾4.09

34.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.22 ₾5.86

51.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.39 ₾1.02

289.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.47 $29.47

$14.67 ₾38.81

100.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.44 ₾3.82

136.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.69 ₾1.81

140.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.87 $28.87

$7.37 ₾19.52

291.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.14 ₾3.03

11.40%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$18.2K ₾48.1K

49.91%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$20.4K ₾54.1K

34.31%

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

$187 $187

$73.6 ₾195

154.14%

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

$51.4 $51.4

$11.64 ₾30.80

341.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$17.63 ₾46.65

241.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$251 $251

$61.4 ₾162

309.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.53 $39.53

$16.85 ₾44.59

134.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.47 $14.47

$6.69 ₾17.71

116.29%

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

$1,991 $1,991

$264 ₾699

653.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$5,169 ₾13.7K

351.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.89 $40.89

$75.1 ₾199

-45.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.17 $38.17

$43.26 ₾114

-11.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$118 ₾311

-14.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$111 ₾295

8.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,353 $3,353

$706 ₾1,868

375.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,875 $2,875

$461 ₾1,221

523.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,069 $4,069

$1,318 ₾3,488

208.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,331 $3,331

$781 ₾2,066

326.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,600 $7,600

$2,463 ₾6,517

208.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,345 $5,345

$1,409 ₾3,727

279.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,434 $5,434

$672 ₾1,779

708.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

11.89

-46.85%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: June 15, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,353 in San Rafael, CA and $706 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Rafael, CA pays 708% 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: $65.0 in San Rafael, CA vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $206 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

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

Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 278% lower than in San Rafael, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

San Rafael, CA pays 708% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,353 in San Rafael, CA versus $706 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,458 per month in San Rafael, CA versus $1,178 in Tbilisi – a 278% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 101% less than in San Rafael, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $4,458 in San Rafael, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in San Rafael, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,178 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Rafael, CA 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.

Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 278% less than in San Rafael, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.