😐A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,148 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,748 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,349 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 6% more than Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tbilisi and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.79
$9.50₽683
14.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$38.70₽2,782
14.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.98
$5.80₽417
42.76%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.01
$2.27₽164
33.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.11₽80.1
-31.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.48₽34.59
-4.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.94
$1.37₽98.2
63.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.96
$2.57₽185
16.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$2.01₽145
-3.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.00₽72.0
-28.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.88
$1.36₽98.0
35.29%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.49
$2.71₽195
-9.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.70
$11.61₽835
-36.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.19
$6.14₽441
5.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.74
$10.65₽766
-8.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.19
$3.12₽225
-61.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.15
$3.46₽249
-54.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.76
$4.15₽299
-56.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.91
$4.82₽347
-53.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.97₽70.1
-32.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.80
$0.99₽71.2
-31.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$1.61₽116
-26.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.98₽70.7
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.83
$3.01₽217
-1.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.44
$9.71₽698
-24.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.03
$1.00₽71.9
52.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.96
$1.94₽140
15.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.40₽28.43
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.74
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.92₽138
-21.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.93
$0.55₽39.44
32.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.77
$6.53₽470
14.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$0.74₽53.4
54.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$35.0K₽2.5M
-47.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.7K
$22.7K₽1.6M
-10.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$177₽12.7K
-58.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.06
$8.05₽579
45.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.16
$12.78₽919
42.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾164
$58.0₽4,173
6.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.53
$6.07₽436
8.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾701
$326₽23.4K
-18.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$7,111₽511.3K
-27.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾199
$69.8₽5,017
7.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$44.08₽3,169
-0.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$116₽8,326
1.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾302
$95.7₽6,884
18.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,836
$438₽31.5K
57.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,204
$308₽22.1K
47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,509
$755₽54.3K
75.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,092
$506₽36.4K
55.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,450
$4,175₽300.2K
-41.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,823
$2,444₽175.7K
-41.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,711
$1,362₽97.9K
-52.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
14.67
-18.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $438 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. 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 111% higher in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 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 $39.00 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $272 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $1,148 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – roughly 6% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,722 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 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 $39.00 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, where all-in costs run around $1,148, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 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 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,148 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 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 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
If budget matters most, go with Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. 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.