😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $801 in Santa Fe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,216 in Santa Fe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,632 in Santa Fe.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 51% more expensive than Santa Fe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Santa Fe40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$7.08ARS 10.1K
52.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$16.21ARS 23.1K
166.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$7.53ARS 10.7K
10.09%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$1.68ARS 2,402
78.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.33ARS 1,893
-38.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$1.16ARS 1,656
-60.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.19ARS 1,694
87.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.56ARS 3,647
14.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.01ARS 1,443
91.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.99ARS 1,412
-31.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.79ARS 2,557
5.03%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$1.46ARS 2,089
73.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.97ARS 12.8K
-17.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$6.06ARS 8,643
2.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$8.09ARS 11.5K
15.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.89ARS 2,696
-35.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.08ARS 2,973
-20.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$0.92ARS 1,309
95.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.72ARS 3,886
-17.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.51ARS 734
39.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.37ARS 1,960
-51.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.92ARS 1,319
28.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.86ARS 2,659
-64.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$3.33ARS 4,751
-10.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$4.86ARS 6,937
56.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.25ARS 1,778
23.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$3.18ARS 4,535
-29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.03ARS 1,462
-65.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$0.99ARS 1,412
50.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.87ARS 1,240
-21.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$5.90ARS 8,410
22.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.07ARS 1,524
6.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$29.8KARS 42.6M
-38.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$29.5KARS 42.1M
-32.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$55.0ARS 78.5K
33.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$7.76ARS 11.1K
50.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$14.82ARS 21.1K
20.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$39.67ARS 56.6K
51.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$13.54ARS 19.3K
24.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$5.02ARS 7,168
31.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$221ARS 315.2K
20.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$1,061ARS 1.5M
389.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$62.1ARS 88.6K
25.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$58.9ARS 84.0K
-24.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$108ARS 154.5K
7.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$95.4ARS 136.0K
18.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$319ARS 454.5K
117.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$200ARS 285.1K
130.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$585ARS 834.3K
125.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$327ARS 467.1K
136.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$1,268ARS 1.8M
91.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$1,037ARS 1.5M
39.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$824ARS 1.2M
-18.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
100
-88.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Santa Fe: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $319 in Santa Fe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Fe pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $16.00 in Santa Fe. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $206, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Fe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Santa Fe?
Tbilisi and Santa Fe differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $801 including rent). Santa Fe 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 Fe earns 23% 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 Fe?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $319 in Santa Fe. 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 Fe?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $221 in Santa Fe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Fe – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $801 in Santa Fe versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Fe but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Fe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Santa Fe?
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 Fe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Santa Fe 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 Fe?
Expats usually find Santa Fe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.