Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Saint Petersburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Saint Petersburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,270 in Saint Petersburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $2,016 in Saint Petersburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $2,762 in Saint Petersburg.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 2% less than in Saint Petersburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Saint Petersburg 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$11.21 ₽947
1.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$41.64 ₽3,519
-7.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$6.01 ₽508
58.40%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$2.96 ₽250
15.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.46 ₽123
-28.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.69 ₽58.4
-7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$2.70 ₽228
-3.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$3.44 ₽291
-5.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.14 ₽96.2
90.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$0.94 ₽79.6
-21.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$1.66 ₽140
3.01%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$1.58 ₽134
79.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$11.78 ₽996
-21.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$6.33 ₽534
6.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$12.33 ₽1,042
3.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.70 ₽143
-3.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.61 ₽136
9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$1.72 ₽145
8.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$3.16 ₽267
-22.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.82 ₽69.1
6.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.60 ₽50.7
8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$1.27 ₽107
10.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.81 ₽68.3
-8.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$2.94 ₽249
15.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$8.48 ₽716
-10.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.12 ₽94.7
51.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$1.92 ₽162
23.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$1.05 ₽88.3
-65.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$53.6 ₽4,525
-71.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$2.72 ₽230
-56.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.58 ₽48.70
31.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
$8.50 ₽718
33.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$0.84 ₽71.0
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$35.9K ₽3.0M
-31.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$32.7K ₽2.8M
-32.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$139 ₽11.8K
-36.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$7.58 ₽640
75.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$8.31 ₽702
142.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$42.76 ₽3,613
60.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.01
$42.02 ₽3,550
-56.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$7.24 ₽612
-7.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$568 ₽48.0K
-34.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$17.6K ₽1.5M
-39.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$87.7 ₽7,409
15.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$51.2 ₽4,327
-23.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$134 ₽11.3K
-12.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$122 ₽10.3K
0.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$739 ₽62.5K
-7.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$443 ₽37.4K
3.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,385
$1,576 ₽133.1K
-17.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$892 ₽75.4K
0.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,365
$4,292 ₽362.7K
-42.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,774
$2,766 ₽233.7K
-47.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$1,146 ₽96.8K
-43.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
19.88
-36.52%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Petersburg: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $739 in Saint Petersburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 76% 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 $42.00 in Saint Petersburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $223, with Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Saint Petersburg?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Saint Petersburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Saint Petersburg?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Saint Petersburg. 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 compared to Saint Petersburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $739 in Saint Petersburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Saint Petersburg?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,270 in Saint Petersburg – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Saint Petersburg?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 251% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or in Saint Petersburg?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,270 in Saint Petersburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Saint Petersburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,247 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Saint Petersburg?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Saint Petersburg 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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