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 $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,319 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,032 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,745 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 3% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Santa Cruz are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Santa Cruz 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$7.51 JMD 1,180

52.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$62.6 JMD 9,839

-39.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$6.53 JMD 1,025

43.95%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$5.37 JMD 844

-37.06%

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

$1.04 ₾2.70

$1.25 JMD 196

-16.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.68 JMD 107

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$2.26 JMD 355

19.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$3.12 JMD 490

-2.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$4.21 JMD 661

-46.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$2.53 JMD 397

-68.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$1.62 JMD 254

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$3.53 JMD 554

-22.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$11.47 JMD 1,802

-18.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$6.35 JMD 998

6.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$10.43 JMD 1,638

24.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$5.98 JMD 939

-72.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$3.93 JMD 618

-53.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$7.46 JMD 1,171

-74.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$2.98 JMD 469

-13.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$3.22 JMD 506

-73.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$2.61 JMD 411

-75.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$3.15 JMD 495

-56.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$1.44 JMD 226

-44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$9.61 JMD 1,510

-64.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$11.48 JMD 1,803

-33.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$2.95 JMD 463

-43.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$3.95 JMD 620

-39.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$1.19 JMD 187

-4.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$3.07 JMD 482

-75.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$6.42 JMD 1,009

76.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.38 JMD 217

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

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

-44.80%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

-34.16%

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

$88.7 ₾231

$178 JMD 27.9K

-50.06%

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

$13.18 ₾34.26

$28.99 JMD 4,554

-54.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$52.1 JMD 8,178

-62.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$37.11 JMD 5,829

83.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$13.09 JMD 2,056

-50.95%

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

$372 ₾967

$361 JMD 56.7K

3.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$8,150 JMD 1.3M

32.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$24.06 JMD 3,780

334.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$31.68 JMD 4,977

22.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

50.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$105 JMD 16.4K

16.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$313 JMD 49.2K

45.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$504 JMD 79.2K

76.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$409 JMD 64.3K

56.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

9.45

33.54%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 56% higher in Tbilisi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $374 – 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 – Santa Cruz is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,978 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 $1,279 in Tbilisi and $1,319 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $372 per month in Tbilisi and $361 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Santa Cruz at $1,319. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Cruz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – 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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.