πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,647 in Novosibirsk versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,276 in Novosibirsk versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.
πLiving in Novosibirsk costs roughly 16% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46β½550
$10.80βΎ28.70
-30.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34β½2,755
$43.18βΎ115
-13.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95β½365
$8.29βΎ22.03
-40.29%
Cappuccino
$2.87β½212
$3.00βΎ7.96
-4.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35β½99.9
$0.82βΎ2.17
64.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½62.0
$0.46βΎ1.21
82.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50β½185
$2.23βΎ5.93
12.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86β½285
$2.92βΎ7.75
32.19%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½81.2
$1.93βΎ5.11
-43.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57β½41.82
$0.68βΎ1.81
-16.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β½124
$1.88βΎ4.99
-10.11%
Eggs
$1.79β½132
$2.54βΎ6.73
-29.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93β½807
$7.42βΎ19.70
47.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10β½377
$6.19βΎ16.43
-17.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06β½742
$9.36βΎ24.86
7.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09β½155
$1.22βΎ3.25
71.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93β½142
$1.66βΎ4.40
16.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½143
$1.80βΎ4.78
7.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35β½247
$2.24βΎ5.96
49.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76β½55.9
$0.71βΎ1.89
7.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½49.48
$0.67βΎ1.79
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½80.2
$1.18βΎ3.13
-7.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73β½54.1
$0.66βΎ1.76
10.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20β½236
$2.98βΎ7.91
7.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58β½707
$7.61βΎ20.21
25.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½67.2
$1.54βΎ4.08
-40.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04β½151
$2.25βΎ5.98
-9.33%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½39.18
$0.36βΎ0.95
47.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.65β½2,336
$14.44βΎ38.36
119.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85β½136
$1.49βΎ3.96
24.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.41
$0.68βΎ1.82
-63.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90β½288
$7.23βΎ19.19
-46.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74β½54.8
$1.14βΎ3.04
-35.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1Kβ½4.1M
$18.5KβΎ49.0K
198.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½2.0M
$20.0KβΎ53.0K
32.38%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107β½7,867
$73.7βΎ196
44.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½405
$11.64βΎ30.91
-52.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77β½647
$17.84βΎ47.39
-50.84%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7β½4,480
$60.1βΎ160
0.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37β½1,798
$16.80βΎ44.63
45.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99β½442
$6.60βΎ17.54
-9.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½26.1K
$266βΎ708
32.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,701β½346.9K
$5,191βΎ13.8K
-9.44%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9β½5,158
$77.7βΎ206
-10.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91β½2,945
$44.75βΎ119
-10.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6β½7,129
$117βΎ310
-17.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9β½5,745
$113βΎ300
-31.04%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470β½34.7K
$693βΎ1,839
-32.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½22.3K
$462βΎ1,226
-34.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840β½62.0K
$1,320βΎ3,505
-36.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647β½47.7K
$774βΎ2,056
-16.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092β½228.2K
$2,430βΎ6,455
27.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,999β½147.5K
$1,446βΎ3,840
38.24%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897β½66.2K
$673βΎ1,787
33.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
11.89
46.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Novosibirsk and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Novosibirsk pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $203, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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
Novosibirsk vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Tbilisi?
Novosibirsk pays 33% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Novosibirsk versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $354 in Novosibirsk versus $266 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Tbilisi?
At $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Novosibirsk or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Novosibirsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Novosibirsk or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Novosibirsk and Tbilisi 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 19% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared