Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $879 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,438 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,998 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 39% more than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Santa Cruz are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Santa Cruz 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.79

$7.37 JMD 1,159

47.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$63.3 JMD 9,958

-30.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.98

$8.95 JMD 1,407

-7.49%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.01

$4.40 JMD 693

-31.36%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$1.31 JMD 205

-41.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.74 JMD 117

-37.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.94

$2.52 JMD 397

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.96

$3.17 JMD 498

-5.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$4.23 JMD 665

-54.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$3.49 JMD 549

-79.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.88

$1.58 JMD 248

16.46%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.49

$3.42 JMD 538

-28.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.70

$11.24 JMD 1,768

-33.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.19

$6.55 JMD 1,030

-1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.74

$7.54 JMD 1,187

28.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.19

$5.96 JMD 938

-79.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.15

$3.16 JMD 497

-50.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.76

$4.13 JMD 650

-56.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.91

$3.00 JMD 472

-25.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$2.07 JMD 326

-68.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.80

$1.94 JMD 305

-64.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$2.99 JMD 470

-60.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$1.46 JMD 229

-52.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.83

$9.01 JMD 1,417

-67.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.44

$11.47 JMD 1,804

-36.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.03

$2.85 JMD 449

-46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.96

$3.21 JMD 506

-29.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$1.09 JMD 171

37.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.93

$3.16 JMD 497

-76.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.77

$6.15 JMD 967

21.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$1.23 JMD 193

-7.32%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-57.57%

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

$20.3K ₾53.7K

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-40.35%

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

$73.9 ₾196

$162 JMD 25.4K

-54.26%

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

$11.71 ₾31.06

$22.34 JMD 3,514

-47.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.16

$50.2 JMD 7,897

-63.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾164

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.18

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.53

$12.93 JMD 2,034

-48.88%

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

$264 ₾701

$226 JMD 35.6K

16.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$2,445 JMD 384.5K

110.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾199

$26.26 JMD 4,130

185.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$26.02 JMD 4,092

69.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$71.7 JMD 11.3K

64.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾302

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

52.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,836

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,204

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,509

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,092

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,450

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,823

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,711

$405 JMD 63.7K

59.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

9.15

29.95%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 59% higher in Tbilisi, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $350 – 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

Tbilisi vs Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 39%, 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 $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,318 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $879 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $226 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Santa Cruz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz – 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 Santa Cruz. 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.