😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,078 in Santa Marta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,454 in Santa Marta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,830 in Santa Marta.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 11% more expensive than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Santa Marta19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$3.66COP 11.9K
195.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$28.29COP 92.1K
55.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$6.22COP 20.3K
33.60%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.55COP 5,037
91.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.73COP 2,372
5.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.46COP 1,502
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$0.82COP 2,676
160.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$1.68COP 5,483
70.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.11COP 3,629
71.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.19COP 3,869
-40.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$0.90COP 2,919
112.22%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.45COP 7,960
1.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$3.69COP 12.0K
109.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$4.07COP 13.2K
51.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$7.85COP 25.5K
21.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.74COP 5,680
-32.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$0.76COP 2,470
117.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$0.98COP 3,197
88.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$0.71COP 2,320
228.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.51COP 1,671
39.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$0.99COP 3,231
-32.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.04COP 3,387
14.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.55COP 1,791
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.41COP 7,835
21.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$15.04COP 49.0K
-48.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.46COP 4,758
8.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.41COP 4,588
63.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.68COP 2,208
-44.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
$14.46COP 47.1K
2.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.68COP 5,481
-10.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.79COP 5,820
-62.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$8.42COP 27.4K
-13.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.98COP 3,194
11.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$21.2KCOP 69.0M
-12.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$26.2KCOP 85.3M
-21.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$192COP 625.0K
-61.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$8.78COP 28.6K
36.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$24.15COP 78.6K
-25.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$19.49COP 63.4K
212.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$7.94COP 25.9K
108.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$4.87COP 15.8K
37.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$167COP 543.1K
61.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$4,906COP 16.0M
5.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$39.94COP 130.0K
91.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$35.37COP 115.2K
22.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$79.9COP 260.0K
50.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$59.9COP 194.9K
84.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$281COP 913.8K
144.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$450COP 1.5M
4.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$685COP 2.2M
97.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$564COP 1.8M
39.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$2,078COP 6.8M
18.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$996COP 3.2M
46.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$530COP 1.7M
24.33%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $281 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 24% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $28.00 in Santa Marta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $167 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 11% 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 in Santa Marta?
Average pay runs 24% higher in Tbilisi, 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 compared to Santa Marta?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 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 in Santa Marta?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $167 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 in Santa Marta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 in Santa Marta?
At $1,078 in Santa Marta versus $1,197 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 $1,078 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 11% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.