😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,000 in Novosibirsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,614 in Novosibirsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $2,227 in Novosibirsk.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 20% more expensive than in Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Novosibirsk25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$7.39₽581
46.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$37.91₽2,978
15.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$5.22₽410
59.20%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.80₽220
6.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.33₽105
-42.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.80₽63.0
-42.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.51₽197
-14.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$3.74₽294
-23.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.05₽82.4
80.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.62₽48.34
14.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.60₽126
19.37%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.90₽149
30.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$11.01₽865
-29.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$5.13₽403
20.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$10.26₽806
-6.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.01₽158
-41.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.83₽144
-9.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.99₽157
-7.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$3.45₽271
-32.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.78₽61.4
-8.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$0.66₽51.9
1.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.08₽85.2
10.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.67₽52.6
-1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$3.20₽251
-8.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$9.58₽752
-19.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$0.92₽72.6
72.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.12₽166
8.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.53₽41.97
-28.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$31.18₽2,449
-52.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.88₽148
-20.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.25₽19.46
172.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$3.88₽305
87.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.70₽55.2
55.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$56.4K₽4.4M
-67.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$26.8K₽2.1M
-23.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$107₽8,429
-31.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$5.61₽441
113.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$8.43₽662
113.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$59.7₽4,687
2.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$24.44₽1,920
-32.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$5.89₽463
13.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$354₽27.8K
-23.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$4,706₽369.7K
9.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$67.7₽5,320
12.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$39.96₽3,139
8.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$95.1₽7,474
26.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$79.0₽6,203
40.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$467₽36.7K
47.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$302₽23.8K
55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$841₽66.1K
60.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$656₽51.5K
20.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$2,755₽216.4K
-10.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$1,780₽139.8K
-18.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$846₽66.5K
-22.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
17.38
-31.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Novosibirsk: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $467 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novosibirsk pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $38.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $210, with Tbilisi 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 Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novosibirsk cheaper than Tbilisi?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Novosibirsk?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Novosibirsk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Novosibirsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $467 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $354 in Novosibirsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Novosibirsk?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Novosibirsk?
At $1,000 in Novosibirsk versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Novosibirsk more family-friendly?
For families, Novosibirsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Novosibirsk?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Novosibirsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.