Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,662 per month in Sterling vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,921 per month in Sterling vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,180 per month in Sterling vs $2,522 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Sterling costs about 123% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sterling sits 100% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.12 $20.12

$10.91 ₾28.56

84.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$43.19 ₾113

98.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.33 $13.33

$8.53 ₾22.31

56.27%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$2.99 ₾7.81

83.28%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$0.81 ₾2.12

239.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$0.42 ₾1.09

454.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.16 ₾5.65

186.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$2.88 ₾7.52

174.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.94 ₾5.08

-49.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$0.68 ₾1.77

405.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.85 ₾4.83

14.59%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$2.53 ₾6.62

92.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.22 $19.22

$7.53 ₾19.69

155.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$6.26 ₾16.39

90.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.28 $18.28

$9.59 ₾25.09

90.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.16 ₾3.04

312.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.64 ₾4.29

-22.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$1.88 ₾4.93

273.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$2.23 ₾5.84

191.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$0.70 ₾1.83

405.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$0.64 ₾1.68

326.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.18 ₾3.09

85.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.70 ₾1.83

248.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.16 $9.16

$2.97 ₾7.78

208.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 $13.84

$7.43 ₾19.45

86.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.54 ₾4.03

11.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.28 ₾5.98

125.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.36 ₾0.93

458.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 $4.60

$1.42 ₾3.71

223.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.69 ₾1.81

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.75 $28.75

$7.27 ₾19.02

295.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 ₾2.86

-23.85%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$18.3K ₾47.9K

44.85%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$20.5K ₾53.6K

22.43%

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

$205 $205

$74.4 ₾195

176.37%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$11.71 ₾30.63

349.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$17.60 ₾46.06

322.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.22 $29.22

$60.3 ₾158

-51.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$6.51 ₾17.03

130.11%

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

$1,771 $1,771

$269 ₾704

558.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$5,154 ₾13.5K

361.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.30 $47.30

$77.1 ₾202

-38.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.30 $44.30

$43.48 ₾114

1.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$118 ₾310

-17.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$113 ₾295

7.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$709 ₾1,856

76.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 $1,356

$465 ₾1,215

191.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,028 $2,028

$1,316 ₾3,442

54.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 $2,254

$767 ₾2,007

193.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,272 $3,272

$2,492 ₾6,522

31.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,397 $2,397

$1,442 ₾3,773

66.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,688 $3,688

$663 ₾1,735

456.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

11.89

-44.74%

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

Last update for Sterling: July 26, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,255 in Sterling versus $709 in Tbilisi. 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 456% higher in Sterling, 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 $86.0 in Sterling versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $437 vs $204 – making Tbilisi 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

Sterling vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sterling costs about 123% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,993 per month in Sterling and $1,787 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,662 in Sterling and $1,191 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,771 per month in Sterling and $269 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,191, than in Sterling at $2,662. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sterling it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,191 versus $2,662 in Sterling. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sterling makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.