😐A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $938 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,432 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,926 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 36% more than Santiago de los Caballeros, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Santiago de los Caballeros are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi7% lower, Santiago de los Caballeros32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$8.41DOP 496
35.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$42.48DOP 2,504
-10.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$7.26DOP 428
29.48%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$1.88DOP 111
79.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$0.74DOP 43.81
40.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.41DOP 24.20
46.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$2.55DOP 150
6.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$3.57DOP 211
-14.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.18DOP 69.7
92.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$1.56DOP 91.9
-49.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$1.53DOP 89.9
5.88%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$1.54DOP 90.6
77.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$6.55DOP 386
41.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$3.62DOP 214
87.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$4.86DOP 287
167.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$3.27DOP 193
-49.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$0.80DOP 46.89
128.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$2.84DOP 167
-33.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.82DOP 107
41.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$2.00DOP 118
-58.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$2.23DOP 132
-70.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.96DOP 56.3
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$1.01DOP 59.7
-20.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$4.80DOP 283
-29.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$10.65DOP 628
-27.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$2.64DOP 156
-36.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$2.98DOP 175
-20.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.57DOP 33.70
-31.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
$30.50DOP 1,798
-49.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$2.57DOP 152
-55.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$2.25DOP 132
-67.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$6.02DOP 355
88.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.35DOP 79.8
2.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$15.2KDOP 898.7K
61.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$25.5KDOP 1.5M
-13.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$92.7DOP 5,468
-4.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$27.31DOP 1,610
-51.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$37.16DOP 2,191
-47.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$25.11DOP 1,481
171.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$4.97DOP 293
29.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$155DOP 9,146
139.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$5,685DOP 335.2K
90.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$26.80DOP 1,580
289.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$45.85DOP 2,703
-15.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$62.2DOP 3,666
84.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$66.3DOP 3,906
84.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$682DOP 40.2K
-0.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$276DOP 16.3K
65.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$1,533DOP 90.4K
-14.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$467DOP 27.5K
91.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$985DOP 58.1K
142.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$898DOP 52.9K
58.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$548DOP 32.3K
16.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
11
14.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Santiago de los Caballeros: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $682 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 17% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $42.00 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Tbilisi vs $200 in Santiago de los Caballeros – so Santiago de los Caballeros wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Santiago de los Caballeros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santiago de los Caballeros cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,408 in Santiago de los Caballeros. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago de los Caballeros, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Santiago de los Caballeros?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,279 in Tbilisi and $938 in Santiago de los Caballeros. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Santiago de los Caballeros. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Santiago de los Caballeros?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago de los Caballeros, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Santiago de los Caballeros it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Santiago de los Caballeros more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Santiago de los Caballeros – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Santiago de los Caballeros?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Santiago de los Caballeros. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.