🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,048 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,788 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 9% less than in Saint Petersburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Saint Petersburg2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$9.46₽711
17.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$49.63₽3,729
-13.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$5.67₽426
44.97%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.57₽193
21.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.08₽81.5
-31.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.58₽43.64
-22.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$3.09₽233
-31.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.90₽293
-23.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.17₽88.2
61.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.96₽71.8
-23.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.61₽121
14.91%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.85₽139
32.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$12.38₽930
-36.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$5.44₽408
14.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$10.62₽798
-8.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.75₽131
-30.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.85₽139
-14.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.98₽149
-9.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$3.50₽263
-33.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.84₽63.0
-15.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.64₽48.14
4.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.36₽102
-13.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.75₽56.1
-5.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$2.91₽219
0.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$9.57₽719
-24.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.02₽76.3
51.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.05₽154
12.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.90₽67.9
-57.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$53.5₽4,017
-72.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.87₽216
-48.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.59₽44.67
16.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$7.70₽579
-3.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$0.75₽56.7
53.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$38.8K₽2.9M
-53.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$37.0K₽2.8M
-46.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$132₽9,882
-44.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$6.70₽503
73.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$7.34₽551
142.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$36.88₽2,770
64.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$23.04₽1,731
-28.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$5.84₽439
11.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$397₽29.8K
-33.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$9,653₽725.2K
-46.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$99.2₽7,451
-21.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$54.8₽4,116
-18.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$117₽8,791
0.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$133₽9,958
-13.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$784₽58.9K
-11.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$459₽34.5K
0.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$1,442₽108.3K
-7.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$907₽68.2K
-14.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$4,548₽341.7K
-44.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$2,919₽219.3K
-51.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$1,261₽94.7K
-49.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
24.95
-52.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Saint Petersburg: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $784 in Saint Petersburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Petersburg pays 99% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $50.0 in Saint Petersburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $223 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Saint Petersburg?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 10% 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 Saint Petersburg?
On paper, Saint Petersburg earns 99% 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 Saint Petersburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $784 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Saint Petersburg?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 261% 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 Saint Petersburg?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,308 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 $1,185 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 10% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.