Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Novokuznetsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Novokuznetsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,015 in Novokuznetsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,702 in Novokuznetsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $2,389 in Novokuznetsk.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 23% more expensive than in Novokuznetsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Novokuznetsk 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$9.68 ₽818
17.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$47.00 ₽3,971
-17.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$6.49 ₽548
46.69%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$2.49 ₽211
36.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.09 ₽92.0
-4.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.50 ₽41.92
28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$1.15 ₽97.2
126.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$2.40 ₽202
35.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.15 ₽96.9
88.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$0.72 ₽61.0
2.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$1.39 ₽118
23.02%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$1.56 ₽132
81.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$10.58 ₽894
-12.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$5.01 ₽423
34.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$10.51 ₽888
21.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$2.04 ₽173
-19.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.68 ₽142
5.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$2.14 ₽181
-12.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$3.78 ₽319
-35.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.86 ₽72.7
1.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.57 ₽48.47
14.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$0.89 ₽75.5
57.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.78 ₽65.5
-5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$3.14 ₽265
8.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$5.84 ₽494
30.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.33 ₽112
27.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$3.02 ₽255
-21.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$0.55 ₽46.25
-34.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$29.47 ₽2,490
-48.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$1.82 ₽154
-35.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.60 ₽50.9
26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
$8.26 ₽698
37.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$0.83 ₽70.3
60.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$26.0K ₽2.2M
-4.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$27.8K ₽2.3M
-20.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$142 ₽12.0K
-37.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$5.87 ₽496
127.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$7.04 ₽595
185.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$50.2 ₽4,239
36.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.01
$29.46 ₽2,489
-38.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$5.89 ₽497
14.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$692 ₽58.5K
-46.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$16.8K ₽1.4M
-36.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$64.3 ₽5,435
57.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$51.4 ₽4,345
-23.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$95.8 ₽8,093
22.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$95.7 ₽8,085
27.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$448 ₽37.9K
52.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$301 ₽25.4K
51.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,385
$949 ₽80.2K
37.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$669 ₽56.6K
34.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,365
$2,151 ₽181.7K
13.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,774
$1,466 ₽123.8K
-0.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$553 ₽46.7K
18.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
23.67
-46.68%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Novokuznetsk: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $448 in Novokuznetsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 18% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $47.00 in Novokuznetsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $208, with Novokuznetsk cheaper for home cooking.

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 Novokuznetsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Novokuznetsk?
Tbilisi and Novokuznetsk differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $1,015 including rent). Novokuznetsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Novokuznetsk?
Average pay runs 18% higher in Tbilisi, 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 Tbilisi and in Novokuznetsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $448 in Novokuznetsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Novokuznetsk – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Novokuznetsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,015 in Novokuznetsk – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,015 in Novokuznetsk versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Novokuznetsk but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Novokuznetsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Novokuznetsk?
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 Tbilisi or Novokuznetsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Novokuznetsk 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: Tbilisi or Novokuznetsk?
Expats usually find Novokuznetsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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