😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,052 in Santa Marta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,421 in Santa Marta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,789 in Santa Marta.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 15% more expensive than Santa Marta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Santa Marta21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$3.56COP 12.7K
203.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$28.12COP 100.4K
53.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$6.21COP 22.2K
33.49%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$1.57COP 5,615
91.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.68COP 2,426
20.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.47COP 1,663
-2.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$0.88COP 3,146
153.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$1.64COP 5,865
78.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.12COP 4,006
72.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.20COP 4,294
-43.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$0.91COP 3,244
106.59%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.46COP 8,782
3.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$3.56COP 12.7K
108.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$3.86COP 13.8K
60.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$8.02COP 28.6K
16.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.81COP 6,446
-32.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$0.77COP 2,736
115.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$0.99COP 3,533
81.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$0.74COP 2,647
202.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.55COP 1,955
29.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.98COP 3,515
-31.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.04COP 3,718
13.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.51COP 1,827
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.49COP 8,896
19.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$13.57COP 48.5K
-43.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.48COP 5,281
4.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$1.49COP 5,325
51.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.72COP 2,573
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$14.44COP 51.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$1.66COP 5,944
-10.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$1.79COP 6,381
-62.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$8.51COP 30.4K
-15.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.92COP 3,271
23.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$21.7KCOP 77.3M
-14.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$26.3KCOP 93.8M
-23.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$196COP 699.7K
-62.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$8.85COP 31.6K
31.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$24.02COP 85.8K
-25.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$19.61COP 70.0K
206.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$7.63COP 27.3K
120.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$4.78COP 17.1K
38.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$161COP 576.7K
64.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$4,882COP 17.4M
6.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$40.46COP 144.5K
92.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$35.11COP 125.4K
27.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$80.2COP 286.3K
45.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$58.3COP 208.2K
93.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$281COP 1.0M
146.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$437COP 1.6M
5.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$697COP 2.5M
89.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$563COP 2.0M
37.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$1,900COP 6.8M
27.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$952COP 3.4M
51.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$468COP 1.7M
43.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
8.62
37.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $281 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $28.00 in Santa Marta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $163 per month, with Santa Marta cheaper across the board.
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 Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Marta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Santa Marta?
Tbilisi pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Santa Marta?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $281 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Santa Marta?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $161 in Santa Marta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Santa Marta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Santa Marta?
At $1,052 in Santa Marta versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Marta but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Marta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Santa Marta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Santa Marta delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,052 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santa Marta hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Santa Marta?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Santa Marta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Santa Marta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.