😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,765 in Rostock versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,859 in Rostock versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,952 in Rostock versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Rostock is roughly 49% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rostock is 32% above, Tbilisi is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.05€12.03
$11.15₾30.00
26.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6€60.5
$43.13₾116
63.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.49€8.13
$8.22₾22.11
15.45%
Cappuccino
$4.31€3.69
$3.13₾8.42
37.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.34
$0.74₾2.00
427.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18€2.72
$0.45₾1.22
606.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.11€4.37
$2.13₾5.74
139.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26€4.50
$2.99₾8.06
75.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.08
$1.89₾5.09
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.36€2.02
$0.73₾1.97
223.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.71€3.17
$1.85₾4.98
100.54%
Eggs
$3.89€3.33
$2.45₾6.58
58.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.46€12.38
$7.85₾21.12
84.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.67€14.27
$6.25₾16.82
166.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.81€19.52
$9.77₾26.28
133.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$1.21₾3.26
167.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.58
$1.59₾4.28
16.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17€1.86
$1.79₾4.81
21.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.28€4.52
$2.32₾6.25
127.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41€1.20
$0.71₾1.91
98.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49€1.28
$0.67₾1.81
122.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95€1.67
$1.18₾3.16
65.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.71
$0.71₾1.92
16.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97€8.54
$2.92₾7.85
241.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.94€5.08
$7.25₾19.50
-18.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.85
$1.55₾4.17
-35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$2.31₾6.21
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04€2.61
$0.38₾1.03
700.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.2€58.3
$14.81₾39.83
360.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.80
$1.48₾3.98
120.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51€2.15
$0.69₾1.86
263.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.12€36.91
$7.45₾20.05
478.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91€1.64
$1.15₾3.10
66.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K€26.7K
$18.0K₾48.4K
73.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K€35.4K
$19.8K₾53.4K
108.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243€208
$73.4₾198
230.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.12€20.65
$11.64₾31.32
107.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5€45.75
$17.77₾47.79
200.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.95€33.34
$60.6₾163
-35.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.59€23.61
$16.44₾44.21
67.82%
Cinema Ticket
$17.13€14.66
$6.51₾17.52
163.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191€164
$263₾707
-27.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,897€3,336
$5,136₾13.8K
-24.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4€66.3
$77.7₾209
-0.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.7€51.1
$44.39₾119
34.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€90.8
$118₾317
-9.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€107
$114₾307
9.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693€593
$693₾1,865
-0.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498€426
$462₾1,244
7.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,543€1,321
$1,337₾3,597
15.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,103€944
$779₾2,096
41.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,444€4,660
$2,530₾6,805
115.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,432€2,938
$1,430₾3,847
140.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rostock
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,206€2,745
$633₾1,702
406.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
11.89
-66.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rostock: April 25, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Rostock and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rostock pays 407% 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: $71.0 in Rostock vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $206 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.
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
Rostock vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rostock and Tbilisi?
Rostock and Tbilisi differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($1,765 vs $1,185 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rostock or Tbilisi?
Rostock pays 407% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rostock and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Rostock versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rostock and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $191 in Rostock versus $263 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 80% higher in Rostock. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,765 in Rostock, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Rostock. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rostock 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 Rostock or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rostock 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.
Where should expats move: Rostock or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Rostock. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.