🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,871 in Santa Cruz.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,862 in Santa Cruz.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $3,854 in Santa Cruz.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 37% less than in Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Santa Cruz is 40% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$2.19AWG 3.92
-13.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$2.62AWG 4.69
-72.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$4.50AWG 8.06
-58.89%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$4.60AWG 8.24
-46.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$7.98AWG 14.29
-1.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$7.51AWG 13.45
-16.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$6.53AWG 11.69
49.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$4.46AWG 7.99
-72.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$4.47AWG 8.01
-64.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$8.43AWG 15.09
-78.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$6.83AWG 12.22
-66.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$6.85AWG 12.25
-89.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.93AWG 3.45
-65.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$3.10AWG 5.56
-61.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$4.50AWG 8.06
-84.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$10.11AWG 18.10
-71.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$19.55AWG 34.99
-62.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.46AWG 4.40
-36.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.98AWG 5.33
-22.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$1.97AWG 3.52
-80.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$154AWG 276
-90.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$19.67AWG 35.22
-92.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$19.64AWG 35.16
-62.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$139AWG 249
-47.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$71.4AWG 128
-83.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$201AWG 361
-91.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$70.7AWG 126
-14.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$46.41AWG 83.1
-64.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$8.42AWG 15.07
-22.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$138AWG 247
89.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$77.0AWG 138
0.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$109AWG 195
-59.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$140AWG 250
-15.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$139AWG 249
-17.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$1,291AWG 2,311
-46.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$556AWG 995
-16.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$1,546AWG 2,767
-13.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$1,366AWG 2,445
-42.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Santa Cruz
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$3,557AWG 6,367
-82.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
0
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Santa Cruz: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $1,291 in Santa Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Cruz pays 462% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Tbilisi vs Santa Cruz: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Santa Cruz?
Tbilisi and Santa Cruz differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,871 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Santa Cruz earns 462% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Santa Cruz?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,291 in Santa Cruz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Santa Cruz?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $138 in Santa Cruz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Santa Cruz?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 940% less than in Santa Cruz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,871 in Santa Cruz, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Santa Cruz. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Santa Cruz?
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 Tbilisi or Santa Cruz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Santa Cruz 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: Tbilisi or Santa Cruz?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Santa Cruz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Tbilisi vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado