Cost of Living Comparison Between Saku and Tartu Cost of Living Comparison Between Saku and Tartu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,036 per month in Saku vs $1,619 in Tartu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,642 per month in Saku vs $2,441 in Tartu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,249 per month in Saku vs $3,263 in Tartu, rent included.

Saku is about 36% cheaper than Tartu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Saku sits 22% below the global median, while Tartu is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 €14.41

$17.30 €15.12

-4.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.2 €61.3

$70.6 €61.7

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.69 €8.47

$9.58 €8.37

1.15%

Cappuccino

$3.79 €3.31

$3.62 €3.17

4.70%

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

$2.59 €2.26

$2.51 €2.19

3.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 €2.26

$2.81 €2.46

-8.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 €4.53

$5.06 €4.42

2.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 €5.01

$5.67 €4.95

1.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.08

$1.27 €1.11

-2.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 €1.24

$1.47 €1.28

-3.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 €2.00

$2.32 €2.02

-1.72%

Eggs

$2.91 €2.54

$2.89 €2.52

0.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.40 €10.83

$12.26 €10.71

1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.96 €7.83

$8.84 €7.72

1.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.23 €9.82

$11.53 €10.08

-2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 €1.65

$1.96 €1.72

-3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 €1.38

$1.60 €1.40

-1.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 €2.11

$2.47 €2.16

-2.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$2.45 €2.14

-3.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 €0.87

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 €0.85

$1.09 €0.95

-10.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 €1.70

$2.05 €1.79

-4.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 €0.88

$1.02 €0.89

-0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 €5.70

$6.29 €5.50

3.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 €9.13

$10.41 €9.10

0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 €1.74

$1.93 €1.69

3.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 €1.93

$2.17 €1.90

1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 €1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.62 €26.75

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 €2.91

$3.40 €2.97

-2.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 €0.65

$0.73 €0.64

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.34 €15.15

$20.57 €17.97

-15.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.95 €1.71

$1.87 €1.64

4.28%

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

$28.6K €25.0K

$28.4K €24.9K

0.46%

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

$30.2K €26.4K

$31.0K €27.1K

-2.62%

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

$266 €232

$270 €236

-1.71%

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

$20.12 €17.58

$22.99 €20.09

-12.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.82 €31.29

$36.00 €31.45

-0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.91 €41.86

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.34 €28.26

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 €10.21

$11.39 €9.95

2.63%

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

$115 €101

$116 €101

-0.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,799 €6,814

$8,244 €7,203

-5.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$114 €99.8

$121 €106

-5.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 €34.36

$39.58 €34.58

-0.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 €85.2

$98.4 €85.9

-0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 €93.6

$110 €96.1

-2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 €595

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 €385

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 €938

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$792 €692

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,144 €3,621

$3,506 €3,063

18.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,764 €2,415

$2,692 €2,352

2.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,829 €1,598

$1,997 €1,745

-8.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.3

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

Last update for Saku: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tartu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 9% 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 $70.0 in Saku versus $71.0 in Tartu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $266 – making Saku 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

Saku vs Tartu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tartu is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,554 per month in Saku and $2,429 in Tartu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,036 in Saku and $1,619 in Tartu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Saku and $116 in Tartu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saku, where all-in costs run around $1,036, than in Tartu at $1,619. In Saku it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tartu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saku – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Saku. 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.