Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sterlitamak

For one person, living is cheaper in Sterlitamak: $1,105 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Sterlitamak
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,105
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Sterlitamak

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Sterlitamak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Tbilisi versus $1,105 in Sterlitamak.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Sterlitamak $1,105

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Tbilisi versus $1,697 in Sterlitamak.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Sterlitamak $1,697

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Tbilisi versus $2,289 in Sterlitamak.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Sterlitamak $2,289

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 15% more expensive than in Sterlitamak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Sterlitamak 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$9.19 ₽767
25.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$35.64 ₽2,975
7.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$8.36 ₽697
17.22%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$3.11 ₽260
14.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$1.13 ₽94.4
-6.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.35 ₽29.21
77.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.37 ₽198
16.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$2.86 ₽239
4.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.06 ₽88.3
103.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$0.72 ₽59.8
5.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.49 ₽124
16.78%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$1.41 ₽118
97.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$14.51 ₽1,211
-36.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$4.49 ₽375
45.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$7.72 ₽645
65.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$0.77 ₽64.5
116.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.30 ₽108
42.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.32 ₽110
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$2.42 ₽202
3.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.81 ₽67.4
7.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$0.56 ₽46.65
30.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$0.76 ₽63.5
86.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.73 ₽61.1
-1.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$3.34 ₽279
1.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$6.74 ₽562
16.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.22 ₽102
32.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$3.10 ₽259
-23.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.52 ₽43.03
-28.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$3.01 ₽251
-62.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.37 ₽30.74
113.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$7.43 ₽620
55.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$0.86 ₽71.4
74.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$53.5K ₽4.5M
-54.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$41.3K ₽3.4M
-45.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$152 ₽12.7K
-41.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$6.50 ₽542
101.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$8.00 ₽667
144.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$37.57 ₽3,135
70.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$24.60 ₽2,053
-22.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$5.91 ₽493
18.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$303 ₽25.3K
23.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$5,898 ₽492.3K
81.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$50.6 ₽4,221
103.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$69.4 ₽5,794
-41.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$165 ₽13.8K
-29.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$145 ₽12.1K
-15.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$437 ₽36.4K
55.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$341 ₽28.5K
33.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$767 ₽64.1K
66.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$619 ₽51.6K
43.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$2,070 ₽172.8K
16.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$1,673 ₽139.6K
-15.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
23.33
-45.91%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Sterlitamak: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Sterlitamak
$341 24.8% $113
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Sterlitamak
$189 19% $44
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Sterlitamak
$159 16.3% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Sterlitamak
$193 12.6% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Sterlitamak
$166 37.6% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Sterlitamak
$49 36.8% $29
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Sterlitamak
$6.9 * 68.7% $15

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Tbilisi and $437 in Sterlitamak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $36.00 in Sterlitamak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $189 per month, with Sterlitamak cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇷🇺 Sterlitamak
🕒 Local time
16:30 4:30 PM
17:30 5:30 PM
1 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
277,410
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Sterlitamak 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Sterlitamak

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sterlitamak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Sterlitamak?
Tbilisi and Sterlitamak differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($1,270 vs $1,105 including rent). Sterlitamak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Sterlitamak?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Tbilisi and $1,658 in Sterlitamak to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Sterlitamak?
Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Tbilisi versus $437 in Sterlitamak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Sterlitamak?
Childcare runs $373 in Tbilisi versus $303 in Sterlitamak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sterlitamak – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,105 in Sterlitamak versus $1,270 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sterlitamak but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sterlitamak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Sterlitamak?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Sterlitamak safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sterlitamak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Sterlitamak?
Expats usually find Sterlitamak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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