😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $996 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,555 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $2,113 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 21% more expensive than Rostov-on-Don, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Rostov-on-Don26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$11.24₽829
-3.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$38.44₽2,836
12.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$4.99₽369
66.13%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.51₽186
19.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.20₽88.8
-31.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.70₽51.5
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.24₽91.3
79.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.28₽168
28.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.02₽75.4
89.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.55₽40.41
23.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.15₽84.9
63.48%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$1.57₽116
61.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.12₽599
-8.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$4.77₽352
29.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$7.38₽545
26.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.26₽93.2
-3.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.65₽121
0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.46₽108
23.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.41₽178
-7.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.72₽53.0
-1.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.56₽41.22
19.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.19₽87.7
-0.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.68₽50.0
-2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$3.32₽245
-10.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$7.93₽586
-4.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$0.91₽67.5
69.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.11₽156
6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.51₽37.82
-29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$18.86₽1,392
-23.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.94₽143
-23.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.35₽26.16
94.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$6.36₽469
13.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.78₽57.8
46.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$25.3K₽1.9M
-27.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$39.9K₽2.9M
-49.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$96.2₽7,100
-23.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$7.01₽517
66.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$8.06₽595
121.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$40.50₽2,989
48.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$25.14₽1,855
-33.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$4.94₽365
33.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$288₽21.2K
-7.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$8,215₽606.2K
-36.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$48.54₽3,582
60.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$62.3₽4,599
-28.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$113₽8,322
3.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$102₽7,504
11.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$490₽36.1K
41.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$351₽25.9K
31.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$937₽69.1K
40.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$576₽42.5K
34.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$2,807₽207.1K
-13.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$1,738₽128.3K
-16.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$966₽71.3K
-30.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
16.33
-27.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rostov-on-Don: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $490 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rostov-on-Don pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $172 per month, with Rostov-on-Don cheaper across the board.
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 Rostov-on-Don: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Rostov-on-Don?
Rostov-on-Don wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rostov-on-Don the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Rostov-on-Don?
On paper, Rostov-on-Don earns 44% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Rostov-on-Don?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $490 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Rostov-on-Don?
A monthly transit pass in Rostov-on-Don runs roughly 31% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Rostov-on-Don?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $288 in Rostov-on-Don. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Rostov-on-Don?
At $996 in Rostov-on-Don versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rostov-on-Don but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Rostov-on-Don the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Rostov-on-Don?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rostov-on-Don delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $996 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rostov-on-Don hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Rostov-on-Don?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Rostov-on-Don 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rostov-on-Don gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.