Cost of Living Comparison Between Rakvere and Tartu Cost of Living Comparison Between Rakvere and Tartu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,245 per month in Rakvere vs $1,605 in Tartu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,783 per month in Rakvere vs $2,451 in Tartu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,322 per month in Rakvere vs $3,298 in Tartu, rent included.

Rakvere is about 22% cheaper than Tartu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Rakvere sits 7% below the global median, while Tartu is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.45 €8.07

$17.06 €14.57

-44.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.72 €39.05

$68.3 €58.3

-33.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.26 €7.06

$9.84 €8.40

-16.06%

Cappuccino

$3.77 €3.22

$3.61 €3.08

4.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 €2.10

$2.55 €2.18

-3.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 €1.65

$2.79 €2.38

-30.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.59 €3.92

$5.09 €4.35

-9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 €3.55

$5.91 €5.05

-29.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 €0.89

$1.28 €1.09

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 €0.66

$1.53 €1.30

-49.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 €2.00

$2.39 €2.04

-2.09%

Eggs

$2.05 €1.75

$2.98 €2.54

-31.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 €7.00

$12.29 €10.49

-33.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 €5.81

$8.47 €7.23

-19.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 €8.99

$11.22 €9.58

-6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 €1.68

$1.91 €1.63

2.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 €1.09

$1.62 €1.38

-20.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 €2.07

$2.48 €2.12

-2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 €2.05

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 €0.90

$1.04 €0.89

0.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 €0.94

$1.14 €0.97

-3.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 €1.47

$2.09 €1.78

-17.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 €0.48

$1.04 €0.89

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.52 €5.57

$6.20 €5.30

5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 €9.03

$10.60 €9.05

-0.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 €1.00

$2.02 €1.72

-42.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 €1.01

$2.10 €1.79

-43.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 €0.67

$1.72 €1.47

-54.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.31 €19.91

$29.96 €25.58

-22.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 €2.49

$3.40 €2.90

-14.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 €0.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.64 €17.63

$19.93 €17.02

3.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 €1.60

$1.91 €1.64

-2.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.9K €17.9K

$29.2K €24.9K

-28.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K €22.1K

$30.2K €25.8K

-14.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$265 €226

$272 €232

-2.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.34 €19.08

$22.72 €19.41

-1.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.54 €26.94

$36.58 €31.24

-13.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 €45.53

$47.51 €40.57

12.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.24 €15.57

$32.45 €27.71

-43.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.18 €4.43

$11.55 €9.87

-55.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$114 €97.3

$117 €100

-2.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,292 €7,082

$8,240 €7,037

0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$121 €103

$122 €104

-0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.32 €30.16

$39.71 €33.91

-11.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 €53.4

$97.2 €83.0

-35.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.8 €68.1

$110 €93.9

-27.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 €299

$669 €571

-47.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 €246

$441 €377

-34.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 €503

$1,092 €932

-46.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 €302

$794 €678

-55.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,774 €1,515

$3,647 €3,114

-51.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,303 €1,113

$2,709 €2,313

-51.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,267 €1,082

$1,986 €1,696

-36.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.3

4.3

-46.51%

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

Last update for Rakvere: April 25, 2026

Last update for Tartu: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Rakvere versus $669 in Tartu. 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 57% higher in Tartu, 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 $46.00 in Rakvere versus $68.0 in Tartu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $265 – making Rakvere the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Rakvere vs Tartu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,245 in Rakvere, $1,605 in Tartu – roughly 29% apart. Tartu costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,867 per month in Rakvere and $2,407 in Tartu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rakvere, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Rakvere and $68.0 in Tartu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,245 in Rakvere and $1,605 in Tartu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rakvere, where all-in costs run around $1,245, than in Tartu at $1,605. In Rakvere it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tartu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tartu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,245 in Rakvere to $1,605 in Tartu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Rakvere. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tartu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.