😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,089 in Novosibirsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $1,710 in Novosibirsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $2,332 in Novosibirsk.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 17% more expensive than in Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi7% lower, Novosibirsk21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$11.86₽997
-3.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$41.53₽3,490
-8.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$5.86₽492
60.41%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$2.47₽208
36.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$1.10₽92.8
-5.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.57₽47.92
5.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$1.14₽95.6
137.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$3.39₽285
-10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.14₽95.9
99.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$0.63₽53.0
25.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$1.43₽120
13.29%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$1.64₽138
67.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$11.47₽964
-18.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$5.00₽420
35.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$11.24₽944
15.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$1.86₽156
-11.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.57₽132
16.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.88₽158
1.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$3.16₽266
-18.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$0.79₽66.5
6.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.61₽51.1
6.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$1.51₽127
-9.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.71₽59.9
12.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$3.09₽259
10.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$10.54₽886
-27.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.00₽84.1
68.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$1.73₽146
37.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.53₽44.69
-26.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
$28.33₽2,381
-45.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$2.09₽176
-45.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.46₽38.62
60.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$5.70₽479
98.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$0.76₽64.0
81.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$23.4K₽2.0M
4.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$32.6K₽2.7M
-32.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$109₽9,202
-18.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$7.02₽590
87.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$8.38₽704
134.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$37.86₽3,182
80.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
$27.81₽2,338
-35.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$6.92₽582
-7.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$289₽24.3K
28.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$67.8₽5,696
54.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$45.72₽3,843
-15.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$127₽10.7K
-9.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$96.2₽8,087
27.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$546₽45.9K
24.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$376₽31.6K
21.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$1,002₽84.2K
30.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$701₽58.9K
27.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$2,403₽202.0K
-0.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$1,770₽148.8K
-19.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
$857₽72.1K
-25.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
22.83
-44.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Novosibirsk: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $546 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novosibirsk pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $42.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $236 vs $213, with Novosibirsk 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Novosibirsk?
On paper, salaries run 34% 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: $681 in Tbilisi versus $546 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $289 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Novosibirsk?
At $1,089 in Novosibirsk versus $1,279 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 17% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.