Grabbing comma separed values from SQLite and putting them in a list

[buran]

I will go for a separate database

Not DB, but table in the same database

The insert and update queries will likely be more CPU intensive than separating a string,

I am confused. My understanding is that you will write to db continuously, adding new values from some source . That is why I compare INSERT and UPDATE statements. Also, the update, suggest you must keep the current values or retrieve them before update.
If your data are constant, i.e. preloaded and you just run SELECT queries, than if values are in separate table, you don't need to split the string, so it should be cheaper in terms of CPU resource.

Can you elaborate on the overall project and what you are doing?