😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $957 in Sterlitamak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,549 in Sterlitamak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $2,141 in Sterlitamak.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 26% more expensive than Sterlitamak, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Sterlitamak29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$9.96₽735
8.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$51.3₽3,786
-15.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$6.46₽476
28.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.59₽191
15.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.78₽57.3
5.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.53₽39.06
-13.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.82₽134
22.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$1.49₽110
95.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.04₽77.0
85.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.71₽52.1
-4.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.47₽108
27.89%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$1.76₽130
44.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$10.47₽773
-29.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$5.07₽374
22.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$8.62₽636
8.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.01₽148
-39.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.00₽148
-17.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.68₽198
-32.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.93₽217
-23.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.69₽51.1
2.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.81₽59.7
-17.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.77₽130
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.53₽39.23
24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.96₽218
0.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$6.83₽504
11.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$0.92₽68.1
67.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$1.70₽126
32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.52₽38.42
-30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.96₽144
-23.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.51₽37.47
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$6.67₽492
8.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.72₽52.9
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$40.5K₽3.0M
-54.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$48.1K₽3.6M
-58.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$103₽7,614
-28.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$5.16₽380
125.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$6.90₽509
158.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$35.01₽2,583
71.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$3.84₽284
71.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$378₽27.9K
-29.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$5,118₽377.7K
1.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$77.1₽5,690
0.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$39.34₽2,903
13.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$128₽9,467
-8.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$115₽8,457
-1.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$445₽32.8K
55.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$300₽22.2K
53.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$769₽56.7K
71.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$508₽37.5K
52.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$2,284₽168.5K
6.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$1,529₽112.8K
-5.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$943₽69.6K
-28.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
9
32.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sterlitamak: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $445 in Sterlitamak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sterlitamak pays 40% 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 $51.0 in Sterlitamak. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $199, with Sterlitamak 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 Sterlitamak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Sterlitamak?
Tbilisi and Sterlitamak differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $957 including rent). Sterlitamak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Sterlitamak earns 40% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Sterlitamak?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $445 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 $266 in Tbilisi versus $378 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 $51.0 versus $43.00 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 $957 in Sterlitamak versus $1,209 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 26% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.