Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sterlitamak Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sterlitamak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $920 in Sterlitamak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,457 in Sterlitamak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $1,993 in Sterlitamak.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 40% more expensive than in Sterlitamak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Sterlitamak 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.55
$8.48 ₽728
38.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.8
$46.82 ₽4,018
-19.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.41
$4.10 ₽352
137.56%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.90
$2.17 ₽187
57.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.76
$0.98 ₽84.2
8.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$0.44 ₽37.65
47.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.05
$1.39 ₽120
94.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.08
$3.02 ₽259
2.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.73
$1.00 ₽85.9
120.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$0.69 ₽59.2
17.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.26 ₽108
30.16%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.18
$1.35 ₽116
103.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.50
$10.06 ₽863
-10.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.09
$4.52 ₽388
44.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.91
$7.80 ₽670
61.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.36
$0.75 ₽64.5
122.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.73
$1.34 ₽115
35.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.03
$1.33 ₽114
45.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.76
$2.59 ₽222
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$0.75 ₽64.1
16.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$0.52 ₽44.26
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.63
$0.74 ₽63.3
87.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.56 ₽47.82
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.78
$3.11 ₽267
8.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.66
$6.06 ₽520
24.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.21
$1.01 ₽86.9
59.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.86
$2.54 ₽218
-11.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.47 ₽40.59
-21.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.41
$21.16 ₽1,816
-28.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.05
$1.77 ₽152
-33.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$0.37 ₽32.05
116.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.55
$5.44 ₽467
108.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$0.72 ₽62.1
84.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.2K
$26.7K ₽2.3M
-6.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.4K
$38.0K ₽3.3M
-41.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾232
$96.7 ₽8,298
-7.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.55
$4.91 ₽422
169.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.8
$8.57 ₽735
127.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾178
$35.89 ₽3,080
90.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.73
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.30
$3.62 ₽311
83.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾948
$274 ₽23.5K
32.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$7,148 ₽613.4K
49.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾270
$77.0 ₽6,606
34.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$60.3 ₽5,175
-35.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾304
$116 ₽9,915
0.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$98.0 ₽8,414
25.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,780
$426 ₽36.6K
60.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,165
$304 ₽26.1K
46.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,349
$758 ₽65.0K
69.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,399
$526 ₽45.2K
74.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,486
$2,136 ₽183.3K
16.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,711
$1,416 ₽121.5K
0.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sterlitamak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,684
$812 ₽69.7K
-20.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
19.18
-33.63%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sterlitamak: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $426 in Sterlitamak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sterlitamak pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $47.00 in Sterlitamak. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $169, 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 in Sterlitamak?
Tbilisi and Sterlitamak differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,286 vs $920 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, salaries run 26% lower in Sterlitamak. 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 in Sterlitamak?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $426 in Sterlitamak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sterlitamak – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Sterlitamak?
All in, you'll spend $1,286 per month in Tbilisi versus $920 in Sterlitamak – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $920 in Sterlitamak versus $1,286 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 40% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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