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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,702 per month in Sterling vs $1,185 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,957 per month in Sterling vs $1,834 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,211 per month in Sterling vs $2,483 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Sterling costs about 128% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sterling sits 102% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$11.15 ₾30.00

81.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$43.13 ₾116

94.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.22 $13.22

$8.22 ₾22.11

60.83%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$3.13 ₾8.42

73.80%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$0.74 ₾2.00

268.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.45 ₾1.22

415.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.13 ₾5.74

178.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$2.99 ₾8.06

158.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.89 ₾5.09

-52.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.73 ₾1.97

390.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.85 ₾4.98

14.05%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$2.45 ₾6.58

106.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.02 $19.02

$7.85 ₾21.12

142.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$6.25 ₾16.82

94.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$9.77 ₾26.28

90.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$1.21 ₾3.26

287.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.59 ₾4.28

-16.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.15 $7.15

$1.79 ₾4.81

299.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.32 ₾6.25

176.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$0.71 ₾1.91

401.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$0.67 ₾1.81

308.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.18 ₾3.16

89.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$0.71 ₾1.92

236.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 $8.87

$2.92 ₾7.85

203.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 $13.73

$7.25 ₾19.50

89.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.55 ₾4.17

12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.31 ₾6.21

111.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.38 ₾1.03

428.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.48 ₾3.98

196.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.69 ₾1.86

101.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.14 $29.14

$7.45 ₾20.05

291.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.15 ₾3.10

-24.35%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$18.0K ₾48.4K

48.50%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$19.8K ₾53.4K

22.42%

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

$212 $212

$73.4 ₾198

188.43%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$11.64 ₾31.32

360.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$17.77 ₾47.79

310.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.61 $28.61

$60.6 ₾163

-52.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

Cinema Ticket

$14.85 $14.85

$6.51 ₾17.52

128.11%

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

$1,740 $1,740

$263 ₾707

562.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$5,136 ₾13.8K

362.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.46 $47.46

$77.7 ₾209

-38.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.60 $44.60

$44.39 ₾119

0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 $97.9

$118 ₾317

-16.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$114 ₾307

3.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 $1,242

$693 ₾1,865

79.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 $1,362

$462 ₾1,244

194.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,975 $1,975

$1,337 ₾3,597

47.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$779 ₾2,096

183.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,221 $3,221

$2,530 ₾6,805

27.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,375 $2,375

$1,430 ₾3,847

66.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,819 $3,819

$633 ₾1,702

503.80%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,242 in Sterling versus $693 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 504% 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 $84.0 in Sterling versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $206 – 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 128% 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 $4,053 per month in Sterling and $1,777 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 $2,702 in Sterling and $1,185 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,740 per month in Sterling and $263 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 $1,185, than in Sterling at $2,702. 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 $1,185 versus $2,702 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.