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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $907 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,430 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,954 in San Rafael, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 32% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and San Rafael are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, San Rafael 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.39
$9.97 ARS 14.7K
8.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$19.95 ARS 29.5K
119.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.80
$5.97 ARS 8,817
39.20%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$1.76 ARS 2,606
68.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$1.01 ARS 1,494
-23.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.97 ARS 1,440
-52.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$0.98 ARS 1,452
118.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$1.47 ARS 2,177
95.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.02 ARS 1,507
86.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.55 ARS 2,284
-54.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$1.43 ARS 2,111
33.57%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$1.58 ARS 2,341
56.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$5.43 ARS 8,031
42.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.21
$7.38 ARS 10.9K
-16.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.12
$6.55 ARS 9,684
46.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$1.76 ARS 2,605
-33.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$1.49 ARS 2,198
10.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.47 ARS 2,172
25.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$0.92 ARS 1,356
153.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.70 ARS 1,030
1.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$0.69 ARS 1,015
-2.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.61 ARS 895
95.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$1.28 ARS 1,888
-48.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$1.79 ARS 2,651
63.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.18
$4.90 ARS 7,241
56.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.12 ARS 1,659
41.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.65 ARS 2,445
40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.83 ARS 1,220
-54.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$0.45 ARS 667
233.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.02 ARS 1,511
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.04
$4.78 ARS 7,059
51.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$0.83 ARS 1,228
31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$31.5K ARS 46.6M
-40.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$32.9K ARS 48.6M
-37.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾192
$77.6 ARS 114.6K
-5.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.41
$6.57 ARS 9,713
82.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.22
$15.45 ARS 22.8K
16.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$26.43 ARS 39.1K
130.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.34
$13.94 ARS 20.6K
18.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$5.89 ARS 8,703
13.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$102 ARS 151.2K
162.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$2,138 ARS 3.2M
140.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$81.1 ARS 119.8K
-5.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$75.6 ARS 111.7K
-42.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$149 ARS 219.7K
-18.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$121 ARS 178.2K
-8.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,803
$338 ARS 499.6K
103.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$236 ARS 348.3K
99.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,550
$676 ARS 999.0K
100.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$539 ARS 797.1K
46.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,473
$2,551 ARS 3.8M
-3.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,818
$1,596 ARS 2.4M
-8.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
San Rafael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
79
-84.95%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $338 in San Rafael. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $20.00 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $179 – making San Rafael 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
Tbilisi vs San Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or San Rafael?
Tbilisi costs about 32% more than San Rafael, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in San Rafael?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,360 in San Rafael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or San Rafael?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to San Rafael?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $907 in San Rafael. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in San Rafael?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $102 in San Rafael. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in San Rafael?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or San Rafael?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Rafael costs $907 versus $1,197 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to San Rafael?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to San Rafael?
If budget matters most, go with San Rafael. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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