😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,128 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,719 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,310 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 7% more than Kostroma, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Kostroma are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Kostroma16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$12.88₽940
-16.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$57.5₽4,199
-24.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$6.26₽457
32.43%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$3.20₽234
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.40₽102
-41.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.67₽48.80
-31.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$4.40₽321
-49.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$4.43₽323
-34.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.24₽90.5
55.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.55₽39.84
23.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.58₽115
18.99%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$1.47₽108
72.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$9.22₽673
-19.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$4.54₽331
36.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$9.87₽720
-5.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.48₽108
-17.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.53₽112
8.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.28₽93.3
40.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.29₽168
-2.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.99₽72.3
-28.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.72₽52.4
-6.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.17₽85.1
0.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.64₽46.78
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$3.16₽231
-5.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$6.28₽459
21.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.07₽78.0
43.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$2.36₽172
-4.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.46₽33.58
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$21.87₽1,596
-33.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$1.53₽112
-2.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.12₽8.86
466.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$7.52₽549
-3.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.79₽57.8
44.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$26.0K₽1.9M
-28.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$29.5K₽2.2M
-32.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$149₽10.9K
-50.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$7.91₽577
47.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$5.04₽368
253.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$25.50₽1,862
135.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$6.49₽474
1.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$703₽51.3K
-62.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$14.8K₽1.1M
-65.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$87.5₽6,389
-11.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$52.5₽3,834
-14.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$134₽9,760
-12.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$164₽12.0K
-31.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$444₽32.4K
56.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$301₽22.0K
53.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$768₽56.0K
71.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$499₽36.4K
55.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$2,088₽152.4K
16.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$1,051₽76.7K
37.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kostroma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$1,075₽78.5K
-37.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
14.67
-18.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kostroma: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $444 in Kostroma. 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 60% higher in Kostroma, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $58.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $183 in Kostroma – so Kostroma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Tbilisi vs Kostroma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kostroma?
Tbilisi costs about 7% more than Kostroma, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Kostroma?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,692 in Kostroma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Kostroma?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostroma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Kostroma?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Kostroma?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $58.0 in Kostroma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Kostroma?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Kostroma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kostroma?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kostroma costs $1,128 versus $1,209 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kostroma?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or Kostroma?
If budget matters most, go with Kostroma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.