🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Novosibirsk versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in Novosibirsk versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,227 in Novosibirsk versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Novosibirsk costs roughly 16% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk25% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.39₽581
$10.82₾28.38
-31.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.91₽2,978
$43.85₾115
-13.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.22₽410
$8.31₾21.79
-37.18%
Cappuccino
$2.80₽220
$2.97₾7.78
-5.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33₽105
$0.77₾2.01
72.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₽63.0
$0.46₾1.20
73.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51₽197
$2.14₾5.63
17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74₽294
$2.87₾7.52
30.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₽82.4
$1.90₾4.99
-44.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62₽48.34
$0.71₾1.86
-12.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60₽126
$1.91₾5.00
-16.23%
Eggs
$1.90₽149
$2.48₾6.52
-23.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.01₽865
$7.74₾20.29
42.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.13₽403
$6.18₾16.20
-16.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.26₽806
$9.57₾25.11
7.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01₽158
$1.17₾3.06
71.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₽144
$1.65₾4.34
10.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99₽157
$1.85₾4.84
7.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45₽271
$2.33₾6.11
48.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78₽61.4
$0.71₾1.85
9.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66₽51.9
$0.67₾1.76
-1.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08₽85.2
$1.19₾3.12
-9.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₽52.6
$0.66₾1.72
1.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20₽251
$2.92₾7.65
9.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58₽752
$7.69₾20.17
24.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₽72.6
$1.59₾4.18
-42.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12₽166
$2.31₾6.06
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽41.97
$0.38₾1.01
39.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.18₽2,449
$14.76₾38.71
111.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88₽148
$1.50₾3.92
25.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₽19.46
$0.68₾1.77
-63.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.88₽305
$7.26₾19.03
-46.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70₽55.2
$1.09₾2.87
-35.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.4K₽4.4M
$18.6K₾48.8K
203.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K₽2.1M
$20.5K₾53.7K
30.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107₽8,429
$73.0₾191
46.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.61₽441
$11.97₾31.40
-53.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.43₽662
$18.00₾47.21
-53.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.7₽4,687
$61.0₾160
-2.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.44₽1,920
$16.52₾43.33
47.94%
Cinema Ticket
$5.89₽463
$6.70₾17.58
-12.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354₽27.8K
$269₾705
31.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,706₽369.7K
$5,152₾13.5K
-8.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7₽5,320
$76.5₾201
-11.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96₽3,139
$43.41₾114
-7.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1₽7,474
$120₾316
-21.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0₽6,203
$111₾290
-28.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$467₽36.7K
$687₾1,802
-32.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302₽23.8K
$470₾1,234
-35.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$841₽66.1K
$1,353₾3,549
-37.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$656₽51.5K
$789₾2,069
-16.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,755₽216.4K
$2,468₾6,472
11.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,780₽139.8K
$1,456₾3,817
22.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$846₽66.5K
$659₾1,729
28.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
11.89
46.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: July 12, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $467 in Novosibirsk and $687 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novosibirsk pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $205, 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 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Novosibirsk, 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: $467 in Novosibirsk versus $687 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 $269 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 in Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Novosibirsk or in Tbilisi?
At $1,000 in Novosibirsk versus $1,197 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 – expenses run 20% 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