😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $814 in Santa Fe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,245 in Santa Fe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,677 in Santa Fe.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 47% more expensive than in Santa Fe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Santa Fe39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$6.84ARS 10.1K
58.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$16.80ARS 24.8K
161.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$7.58ARS 11.2K
9.63%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.63ARS 2,414
82.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.33ARS 1,961
-42.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$1.17ARS 1,731
-60.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$1.25ARS 1,845
71.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.47ARS 3,657
16.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$0.99ARS 1,463
91.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.97ARS 1,435
-26.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.81ARS 2,669
5.52%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.53ARS 2,260
62.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$8.83ARS 13.0K
-12.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$5.84ARS 8,628
5.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$8.18ARS 12.1K
16.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.89ARS 2,795
-38.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$2.17ARS 3,212
-23.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$0.98ARS 1,449
88.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.64ARS 3,900
-11.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.52ARS 764
36.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.42ARS 2,101
-52.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.91ARS 1,351
30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.87ARS 2,765
-64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$3.34ARS 4,930
-12.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$4.89ARS 7,226
57.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.26ARS 1,862
26.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.16ARS 4,668
-26.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$1.02ARS 1,512
-62.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.99ARS 1,459
51.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.92ARS 1,366
-26.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$6.16ARS 9,109
17.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.06ARS 1,570
2.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$30.2KARS 44.7M
-38.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$29.3KARS 43.3M
-30.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$54.7ARS 80.9K
33.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$8.07ARS 11.9K
48.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$14.71ARS 21.7K
22.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$40.01ARS 59.1K
52.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$13.55ARS 20.0K
21.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$4.86ARS 7,187
37.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$216ARS 318.8K
24.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$1,092ARS 1.6M
371.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$62.0ARS 91.6K
23.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$60.2ARS 89.0K
-27.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$109ARS 160.8K
10.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$96.1ARS 142.1K
15.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$313ARS 462.9K
119.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$201ARS 297.0K
134.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$581ARS 858.1K
133.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$322ARS 476.3K
144.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$1,247ARS 1.8M
97.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$1,035ARS 1.5M
40.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Santa Fe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$831ARS 1.2M
-20.70%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Santa Fe: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $313 in Santa Fe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Fe pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $17.00 in Santa Fe. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 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 in Santa Fe?
Tbilisi and Santa Fe differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $814 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, salaries run 26% lower in Santa Fe. 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 in Santa Fe?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $313 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $216 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 $17.00 versus $44.00 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 $814 in Santa Fe versus $1,197 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 47% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.