😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,146 in Santorini versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,116 in Santorini versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,086 in Santorini versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Santorini is roughly 79% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santorini is 61% above, Tbilisi is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.77€17.29
$10.82₾28.39
82.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.4€79.1
$43.85₾115
106.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.07€14.06
$8.31₾21.80
93.38%
Cappuccino
$4.71€4.12
$2.97₾7.78
58.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81€3.33
$0.77₾2.01
394.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.22
$0.46₾1.20
204.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.78€5.06
$2.14₾5.63
170.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47€6.53
$2.87₾7.52
160.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09€1.83
$1.90₾4.99
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42€1.24
$0.71₾1.86
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.39€2.96
$1.91₾5.00
77.49%
Eggs
$6.82€5.97
$2.48₾6.52
175.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.85€12.99
$7.74₾20.29
91.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73€6.76
$6.18₾16.21
25.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.32€14.28
$9.57₾25.12
70.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.47
$1.17₾3.06
141.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26€1.98
$1.65₾4.34
36.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71€1.50
$1.85₾4.84
-7.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.98
$2.33₾6.11
45.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$0.71₾1.85
260.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20€1.05
$0.67₾1.76
79.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94€0.82
$1.19₾3.12
-21.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$0.66₾1.72
1.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€5.98
$2.92₾7.65
134.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.83€5.10
$7.69₾20.18
-24.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.80
$1.59₾4.18
29.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.59
$2.31₾6.06
28.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.73€2.39
$0.38₾1.01
618.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$14.76₾38.72
210.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.50€3.93
$1.50₾3.92
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.68₾1.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.94€12.19
$7.26₾19.04
92.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.91
$1.09₾2.87
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K€27.8K
$18.6K₾48.8K
70.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K€23.0K
$20.5K₾53.7K
28.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$324€284
$73.0₾192
344.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.62€39.92
$11.97₾31.41
281.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07€29.80
$18.00₾47.22
89.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.0€71.8
$61.0₾160
34.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.84€22.61
$16.52₾43.34
56.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.02€6.14
$6.70₾17.58
4.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$627€549
$269₾705
133.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,010€5,258
$5,152₾13.5K
16.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7€61.0
$76.5₾201
-8.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7€45.21
$43.41₾114
19.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5€68.7
$120₾316
-34.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€101
$111₾290
3.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499€437
$687₾1,803
-27.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787€688
$470₾1,234
67.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,340€1,172
$1,353₾3,550
-0.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,057€925
$789₾2,069
34.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,168€4,521
$2,468₾6,473
109.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,425€2,996
$1,456₾3,818
135.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santorini
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,232€1,078
$659₾1,729
87.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.15
11.89
-65.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santorini: July 12, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Santorini and $687 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santorini pays 87% 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: $90.0 in Santorini vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $205 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
Santorini vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santorini and in Tbilisi?
Santorini and Tbilisi differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($2,146 vs $1,197 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Santorini or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 87% higher in Santorini, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Santorini and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Santorini versus $687 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Santorini and in Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 210% less than in Santorini. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Santorini and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $627 in Santorini versus $269 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $2,146 in Santorini, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Santorini. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santorini and Tbilisi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Santorini or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santorini 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.
Where should expats move: Santorini or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Santorini. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.