Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,561 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,985 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,408 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Santa Monica, CA costs about 277% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Monica, CA sits 240% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.17 $25.17

$10.80 ₾28.71

133.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.5 $98.5

$43.18 ₾115

128.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$8.29 ₾22.04

48.97%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$3.00 ₾7.97

86.33%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$0.82 ₾2.17

259.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.46 ₾1.21

391.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.61 $8.61

$2.23 ₾5.93

286.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$2.92 ₾7.75

216.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.93 ₾5.12

-38.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 $4.29

$0.68 ₾1.81

530.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$1.88 ₾5.00

132.45%

Eggs

$6.99 $6.99

$2.54 ₾6.74

175.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$7.42 ₾19.70

68.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.90 $13.90

$6.19 ₾16.44

124.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$9.36 ₾24.87

56.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$1.22 ₾3.25

359.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.66 ₾4.40

19.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.80 ₾4.78

120.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$2.24 ₾5.96

155.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.71 ₾1.89

318.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$0.67 ₾1.79

274.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.18 ₾3.13

61.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.66 ₾1.76

227.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 $10.97

$2.98 ₾7.91

268.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$7.61 ₾20.22

99.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.54 ₾4.08

63.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.25 ₾5.99

128.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.36 ₾0.95

505.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.8 $78.8

$14.44 ₾38.38

445.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.49 ₾3.97

106.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.68 ₾1.82

151.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.91 $28.91

$7.23 ₾19.20

299.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.14 ₾3.04

14.04%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$18.5K ₾49.1K

31.91%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$20.0K ₾53.1K

25.99%

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

$192 $192

$73.7 ₾196

160.25%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$11.64 ₾30.92

406.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$17.84 ₾47.41

268.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$60.1 ₾160

102.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.04 $45.04

$16.80 ₾44.65

168.10%

Cinema Ticket

$18.15 $18.15

$6.60 ₾17.55

175.00%

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

$1,806 $1,806

$266 ₾708

577.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K $14.8K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

185.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 $62.3

$77.7 ₾206

-19.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 $34.90

$44.75 ₾119

-22.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$117 ₾310

-11.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$113 ₾300

34.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,293 $3,293

$693 ₾1,840

375.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,878 $2,878

$462 ₾1,227

523.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,994 $6,994

$1,320 ₾3,507

429.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,951 $5,951

$774 ₾2,057

668.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$2,430 ₾6,458

345.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,190 $8,190

$1,446 ₾3,842

466.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,147 $7,147

$673 ₾1,788

962.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

11.89

-45.42%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,293 in Santa Monica, CA versus $693 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 962% higher in Santa Monica, 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 $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $203 – 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

Santa Monica, CA vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Monica, CA is pricier by about 277%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,842 per month in Santa Monica, CA and $1,813 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,806 per month in Santa Monica, CA and $266 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 115% more in Santa Monica, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,209, than in Santa Monica, CA at $4,561. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Monica, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Santa Monica, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.