😐A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $960 in Ulan Ude, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,464 in Ulan Ude, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,967 in Ulan Ude, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 25% more than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Ulan Ude are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Ulan Ude28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$9.28₽729
16.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$37.70₽2,961
16.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$5.99₽471
38.73%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.29₽180
29.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.19₽93.4
-35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.48₽37.42
-4.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$1.42₽111
50.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.53₽198
13.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.16₽91.4
63.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.44₽34.51
61.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.37₽107
39.42%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.72₽135
44.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$10.69₽840
-27.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$4.90₽385
26.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$8.89₽698
7.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.73₽136
-32.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.84₽144
-10.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.93₽151
-4.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.66₽209
-12.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.79₽61.8
-10.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$0.68₽53.0
-1.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.40₽110
-15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.68₽53.3
-2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.98₽234
-2.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$6.36₽500
20.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.00₽78.7
59.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.92₽151
20.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.49₽38.24
-22.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.87₽147
-19.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.33₽25.90
106.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$6.28₽494
15.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.80₽62.7
36.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$34.8K₽2.7M
-46.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$36.0K₽2.8M
-43.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$109₽8,593
-33.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$5.99₽470
99.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$7.76₽610
131.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$35.95₽2,824
69.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$5.09₽400
31.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$319₽25.1K
-15.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$7,056₽554.3K
-26.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$68.8₽5,403
11.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$44.46₽3,493
-2.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$114₽8,922
6.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$108₽8,520
1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$447₽35.1K
53.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$306₽24.0K
53.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$759₽59.6K
78.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$516₽40.6K
52.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$2,329₽183.0K
5.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$1,802₽141.6K
-19.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ulan Ude
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$670₽52.7K
-1.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
18.33
-35.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ulan Ude: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $447 in Ulan Ude. 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 2% higher in Ulan Ude, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $38.00 in Ulan Ude. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $191 – making Ulan Ude 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 Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Ulan Ude compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $960 in Ulan Ude – roughly 25% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Ulan Ude?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,440 in Ulan Ude. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Ulan Ude?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulan Ude, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $38.00 in Ulan Ude. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulan Ude, where all-in costs run around $960, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Ulan Ude it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Ulan Ude?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $960 in Ulan Ude to $1,197 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Ulan Ude safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Ulan Ude?
If budget matters most, go with Ulan Ude. 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.