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 $1,187 per month in Tbilisi vs $868 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,826 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,448 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,466 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,027 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Santa Cruz are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Santa Cruz 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.79 ₾28.26

$7.44 JMD 1,172

45.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.24 ₾116

$63.3 JMD 9,961

-30.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.40 ₾21.98

$8.76 JMD 1,379

-4.11%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₾7.80

$4.35 JMD 685

-31.49%

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

$0.75 ₾1.97

$1.35 JMD 213

-44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.10

$0.71 JMD 112

-40.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₾5.78

$2.44 JMD 384

-9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.87

$3.16 JMD 498

-5.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ₾5.25

$4.44 JMD 699

-54.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$3.61 JMD 569

-81.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.73

$1.58 JMD 248

13.92%

Eggs

$2.59 ₾6.79

$3.58 JMD 564

-27.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$10.92 JMD 1,719

-31.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 ₾16.24

$6.53 JMD 1,029

-5.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.55 ₾25.02

$7.57 JMD 1,192

26.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.20

$5.93 JMD 934

-79.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.31

$3.01 JMD 474

-45.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.91

$4.14 JMD 653

-54.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.09

$3.01 JMD 475

-22.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$2.09 JMD 330

-68.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.69

$1.99 JMD 314

-67.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₾3.24

$2.97 JMD 468

-58.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.71

$1.48 JMD 233

-56.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ₾8.04

$8.88 JMD 1,398

-65.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.74 ₾20.26

$11.15 JMD 1,756

-30.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₾4.18

$2.87 JMD 452

-44.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₾5.86

$3.10 JMD 488

-27.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 ₾0.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$1.11 JMD 175

27.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$3.09 JMD 487

-77.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 ₾19.68

$6.36 JMD 1,001

18.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.01

$1.23 JMD 194

-6.50%

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

$18.0K ₾47.2K

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

-57.94%

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

$19.9K ₾52.0K

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-40.52%

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

$74.2 ₾194

$161 JMD 25.4K

-53.99%

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

$11.85 ₾31.04

$21.95 JMD 3,457

-46.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.14 ₾47.49

$51.8 JMD 8,162

-65.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾162

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 ₾44.28

Cinema Ticket

$6.53 ₾17.11

$13.26 JMD 2,087

-50.75%

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

$264 ₾691

$227 JMD 35.7K

16.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,079 ₾13.3K

$2,505 JMD 394.4K

102.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 ₾202

$25.76 JMD 4,057

199.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.11 ₾116

$25.96 JMD 4,087

69.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾313

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

70.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$76.2 JMD 12.0K

45.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 ₾1,851

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₾1,206

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 ₾3,530

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$783 ₾2,050

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₾6,345

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,480 ₾3,876

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$662 ₾1,733

$401 JMD 63.1K

65.25%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 65% 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: $205 vs $351 – 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 37%, 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 $1,780 per month in Tbilisi and $1,303 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 $1,187 in Tbilisi and $868 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 $227 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 $868, than in Tbilisi at $1,187. 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.