Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Stip Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Stip

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $771 in Stip, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,127 in Stip, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,484 in Stip, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 55% more than Stip, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Stip are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Stip 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$5.51 MKD 294
98.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$16.00 MKD 855
169.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$5.06 MKD 270
68.58%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$1.99 MKD 106
50.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$1.81 MKD 96.6
-55.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$1.26 MKD 67.5
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$2.23 MKD 119
-3.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$2.64 MKD 141
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.35 MKD 71.9
43.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.69 MKD 36.73
-1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$1.15 MKD 61.4
60.87%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$2.02 MKD 108
25.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$10.27 MKD 549
-26.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$7.25 MKD 388
-13.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$7.64 MKD 408
25.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$0.97 MKD 51.9
19.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.43 MKD 76.3
14.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$1.30 MKD 69.2
44.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$1.59 MKD 84.9
40.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.96 MKD 51.3
-27.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$1.33 MKD 71.2
-51.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$0.57 MKD 30.61
107.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.43 MKD 23.23
62.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.93 MKD 157
1.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$7.44 MKD 398
-0.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$0.95 MKD 50.7
62.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.81 MKD 96.7
25.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.63 MKD 33.69
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$20.35 MKD 1,087
-27.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$1.14 MKD 61.1
24.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.50 MKD 26.53
38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$5.54 MKD 296
31.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.45 MKD 77.4
-24.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$31.4K MKD 1.7M
-41.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$33.8K MKD 1.8M
-39.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$142 MKD 7,600
-47.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$9.13 MKD 488
28.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$15.26 MKD 815
15.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$28.65 MKD 1,531
110.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$4.67 MKD 249
39.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$219 MKD 11.7K
22.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$1,198 MKD 64.0K
330.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$38.29 MKD 2,046
101.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$32.50 MKD 1,737
33.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$75.3 MKD 4,026
57.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$112 MKD 6,006
0.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$203 MKD 10.8K
250.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$131 MKD 7,007
254.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$332 MKD 17.8K
295.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$206 MKD 11.0K
271.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$1,214 MKD 64.9K
105.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$1,004 MKD 53.6K
43.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Stip
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$468 MKD 25.0K
41.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.1
67.46%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Stip: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $203 in Stip. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $16.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $186 – making Stip the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Stip: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stip cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $1,156 in Stip. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stip, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Stip?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $16.00 in Stip. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Stip?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,191 in Tbilisi and $771 in Stip. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Stip?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Stip, where all-in costs run around $771, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Stip it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Stip more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stip – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Stip?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stip. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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