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 $878 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,854 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,429 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,491 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,981 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 10% lower, Santa Cruz 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.78 ₾29.00

$7.66 JMD 1,213

40.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.10 ₾116

$62.0 JMD 9,819

-30.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 ₾22.24

$8.89 JMD 1,407

-6.97%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₾7.94

$4.39 JMD 695

-32.80%

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

$0.76 ₾2.05

$1.31 JMD 207

-41.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.13

$0.76 JMD 120

-44.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾6.03

$2.56 JMD 405

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.71

$3.15 JMD 498

-8.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.19

$4.44 JMD 703

-56.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.84

$3.62 JMD 573

-81.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.97

$1.55 JMD 246

19.35%

Eggs

$2.49 ₾6.69

$3.48 JMD 550

-28.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 ₾20.27

$10.91 JMD 1,727

-30.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 ₾17.09

$6.50 JMD 1,029

-2.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 ₾25.38

$7.69 JMD 1,216

22.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$5.99 JMD 948

-80.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₾4.26

$3.15 JMD 499

-49.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 ₾5.00

$4.31 JMD 682

-56.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾6.03

$2.96 JMD 468

-24.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₾1.79

$2.10 JMD 332

-68.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.83

$2.02 JMD 320

-66.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.17

$3.09 JMD 490

-61.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.77

$1.50 JMD 237

-56.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ₾8.25

$8.68 JMD 1,374

-64.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 ₾20.34

$11.38 JMD 1,801

-33.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.08

$2.88 JMD 455

-47.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₾6.15

$3.22 JMD 510

-28.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.79 ₾39.78

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ₾3.90

$1.12 JMD 177

29.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$3.27 JMD 517

-77.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.35 ₾19.78

$6.12 JMD 968

20.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.93

$1.23 JMD 194

-11.38%

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

$18.4K ₾49.5K

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

-57.64%

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

$20.3K ₾54.5K

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

-39.11%

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

$73.3 ₾197

$161 JMD 25.5K

-54.51%

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

$11.72 ₾31.53

$21.96 JMD 3,476

-46.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.87 ₾48.08

$51.8 JMD 8,200

-65.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 ₾165

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.34 ₾43.94

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₾17.73

$12.91 JMD 2,043

-48.95%

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

$261 ₾702

$225 JMD 35.6K

16.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,156 ₾13.9K

$2,521 JMD 398.9K

104.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 ₾205

$26.24 JMD 4,153

190.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.83 ₾118

$25.28 JMD 4,001

73.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₾325

$70.6 JMD 11.2K

70.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾304

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

46.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₾1,873

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,226

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ₾3,500

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 ₾2,067

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,500 ₾6,725

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,432 ₾3,853

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 ₾1,756

$401 JMD 63.4K

62.99%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Tbilisi versus $0 in Santa Cruz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% 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 $43 in Tbilisi versus $62 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $354 – 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 $1,317 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 $878 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $261 per month in Tbilisi and $225 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 $878, 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.