Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaluga and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kaluga: $1,021 a month against $1,278 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kaluga, Russia
Tbilisi, Georgia
Kaluga
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,021
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kaluga and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kaluga and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,021 in Kaluga versus $1,278 in Tbilisi.

  • Kaluga $1,021
  • Tbilisi $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,594 in Kaluga versus $2,017 in Tbilisi.

  • Kaluga $1,594
  • Tbilisi $2,017

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,168 in Kaluga versus $2,755 in Tbilisi.

  • Kaluga $2,168
  • Tbilisi $2,755

Living in Kaluga costs roughly 20% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kaluga 25% lower, Tbilisi 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.25 ₽840
$11.62 ₾30.07
-11.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.27 ₽3,055
$38.41 ₾99.4
-2.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ₽407
$9.74 ₾25.20
-49.08%
Cappuccino
$2.62 ₽215
$3.56 ₾9.21
-26.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽75.3
$1.08 ₾2.80
-14.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₽47.85
$0.56 ₾1.46
3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.44 ₽118
$2.73 ₾7.05
-47.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ₽149
$3.13 ₾8.09
-41.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ₽103
$2.14 ₾5.55
-41.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 ₽81.5
$0.75 ₾1.95
32.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₽198
$1.80 ₾4.66
34.44%
Eggs
$2.05 ₽168
$2.80 ₾7.25
-26.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.66 ₽1,120
$9.43 ₾24.41
44.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.81 ₽558
$7.00 ₾18.10
-2.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 ₽1,185
$12.69 ₾32.83
13.87%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₽150
$1.63 ₾4.22
12.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ₽141
$1.84 ₾4.77
-6.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ₽140
$1.97 ₾5.09
-13.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.86 ₽234
$2.47 ₾6.39
15.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 ₽44.61
$0.75 ₾1.95
-28.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₽45.61
$0.67 ₾1.74
-16.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 ₽122
$1.41 ₾3.66
5.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₽67.1
$0.72 ₾1.86
13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 ₽261
$3.51 ₾9.08
-9.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.61 ₽705
$7.89 ₾20.40
9.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₽99.4
$1.70 ₾4.41
-28.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₽224
$2.37 ₾6.12
15.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 ₽36.53
$0.38 ₾0.98
18.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.83 ₽1,544
$15.29 ₾39.56
23.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₽77.5
$1.19 ₾3.08
-20.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.74 ₾1.91
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.71 ₽550
$11.89 ₾30.76
-43.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 ₽70.3
$1.46 ₾3.77
-41.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.1K ₽4.4M
$25.0K ₾64.6K
112.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K ₽3.4M
$22.8K ₾59.1K
83.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 ₽10.3K
$88.1 ₾228
43.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.13 ₽503
$12.71 ₾32.87
-51.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.38 ₽769
$19.79 ₾51.2
-52.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.75 ₽4,078
$64.3 ₾166
-22.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.64 ₽2,019
$19.17 ₾49.59
28.53%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65 ₽299
$6.65 ₾17.20
-45.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$341 ₽28.0K
$371 ₾961
-8.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,163 ₾23.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7 ₽8,004
$102 ₾264
-4.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38 ₽3,064
$39.65 ₾103
-5.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$184 ₽15.0K
$118 ₾306
55.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5 ₽7,744
$120 ₾310
-21.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ₽24.8K
$690 ₾1,784
-56.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$223 ₽18.2K
$461 ₾1,193
-51.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₽51.4K
$1,362 ₾3,523
-53.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 ₽30.1K
$897 ₾2,321
-59.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,541 ₽126.3K
$2,277 ₾5,891
-32.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,302 ₽106.7K
$1,378 ₾3,564
-5.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaluga
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$662 ₽54.2K
$710 ₾1,836
-6.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.12
12.53
84.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kaluga: October 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kaluga
$247
Tbilisi
$235 4.7% $12
Accommodation & Living
Kaluga
$223
Tbilisi
$461 107% $239
Clothing & Footwear
Kaluga
$186
Tbilisi
$171 8.1% $15
Eating Out
Kaluga
$145
Tbilisi
$191 31.9% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaluga
$142
Tbilisi
$121 14.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Kaluga
$57
Tbilisi
$78 36% $21
Getting Around
Kaluga
$22 *
Tbilisi
$22 0.6% $0.1

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Kaluga and $690 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 7% 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: $37 in Kaluga vs $38 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $235, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Kaluga
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
02:01 2:01 AM
03:01 3:01 AM
1 h ahead of Kaluga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
331,842
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 81.97 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 92.27 RUB (100 RUB = 1.08 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.343 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kaluga Tbilisi 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kaluga
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Kaluga vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaluga and in Tbilisi?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,021 in Kaluga and $1,278 in Tbilisi, so Kaluga is about 20% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Kaluga. 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 Kaluga and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $302 in Kaluga versus $690 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaluga and in Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 19% less than in Kaluga. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaluga and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $341 in Kaluga versus $371 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $2,000 go in Kaluga compared to Tbilisi?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Kaluga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Kaluga and Tbilisi?
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 Kaluga or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaluga and Tbilisi are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Kaluga and Tbilisi?
It comes down to priorities – Kaluga wins on affordability, Tbilisi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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