Cost of Living in Tartu, Estonia

Updated On May 10, 2022

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Tartu?

The Eastern city of Estonia with rich culture and traditions welcomes you.

Tartu is also one of the oldest cities in Estonia where youth loves hanging out.

If you want clean air and absolutely green place, it is exactly what you need.

Almost all of the citizens are Estonians, and a small percentage of Russians have settled here for life.

Tartu is only 185 kilometers from the capital city of Tallinn, so you can easily get there by bus, train or rented car.

Besides, a small airport in the southwest of Tartu offers regular flights to the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Cost of Living Index:
49.65
* Based on Research & User Data

Estonia FlagEstonia : Cost of Living by City

Cost of Living in Estonia
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

The students and youth are the locals of Tartu where the air is filled with joy and light-heartedness.

That’s how the old city can get young again.

There’s a lot of real descent budget places, like bars, and clubs, to eat, drink and enjoy leisure time.

Markets

MARKETS

Tartu is famous for its splendid Christmas markets which can be your next destination for the holidays.

There are also three large malls where you can buy everything from food to souvenirs.

The largest covered market in the downtown offers a great variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat products.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

In Tartu, the most exciting places can be reached on foot.

If you need to go to the suburbs choose local red buses which are easy to catch.

The tickets can be purchased in the supermarkets, on the bus, at the bus station or in the special kiosks.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Tartu is considered as one of the cities in Estonia where the cost of living is really low.

It also concerns the monthly bills for utilities, mobile phone, and the Internet connection.

Basic utilities for a 85 square meters apartment cost $189 on average.

Internet connection without any specific plans or discounts is $25.45, and a 10-minute call via mobile phone costs $0.40.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

Natives and tourists in Tartu who do not imagine their life staying at home and surfing the Internet will find lots of recreational activities in this city.

Green parks are convenient for running and walking, clubs and restaurants are furnished with rooms for kids, as well as they offer outdoor playgrounds, hiking trails and more.

You can go to rollerblading, ice skating, playing golf, bicycling or skiing

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

In case you are being constantly called a shopaholic, you can prove it by going shopping in Tartu.

The second biggest city in Estonia has enough chain stores, retail shops, malls, and gift shops to satisfy your tastes.

World-famous brands like Zara, H&M, Nike are neighboring the cutting-edge men’s and women’s wear by local Estonian manufacturers.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Tartu provides comfortable and budget hotels and hostels in case you want to stay for a couple of days or weeks.

Since the city is full of youth and students, it might be difficult at times to get some really good offers so you have to ask and search well.

Prices for one bedroom accommodation in the downtown range around $423.74.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Tartu

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$6.78
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$3.39
Water (0.33 Liter)$0.79
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$0.88
Loaf Bread (500g)$0.81
Eggs (12)$1.71
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$1.30
Monthly Pass$17.33
Gasoline$1.51
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$188.54
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.04
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$25.36
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$44.79
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$22.98
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$7.91
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$96.85
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$30.23
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$73.85
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$423.74
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$309.26
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$729.78

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Tartu?

With such a great variety of fresh food in the markets, it would be sinful to spend money on restaurants and bars.

Therefore, eating out is rather a part of the leisure time programme than normal practice for an average Tartu citizen.

They spend 31.5% of their money on markets, and half that figure is given to the restaurants.

The least is wasted on clothing and shoes because there are more important things like recreation, riding local red buses and paying bills.

Monthly utilities (water, garbage, cooling, heating) take around 8.9% of the family’s budget.

Those who live in the rented accommodation will have to add 18.8% to the previous item of expenditure.

Average Costs Breakdown

15.4%
31.5%
12.8%
8.9%
8.6%
4.1%
18.8%

Tartu: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

The most well-paid jobs in Tartu just like anywhere else these days are in the information technologies sphere.

An average salary in the city is $1,132.46 against the minimum wage of $618.3 throughout the country.

Estonians make more by renting out their apartments, working in the tourism-related areas, banking and administration.

The young ladies and gentlemen in Tartu study hard and try to find jobs elsewhere in Europe and the world because working in the degree is often unprofitable.

A lot of season workers come here from the poorer countries to work in the plants, collect fruits and vegetables and to earn money which is too little for the locals.

Average Salary$1132.46
Minimum Wage$618.3
Mortgage Interest Rate2.60%

Tartu Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Tartu Safety Review

Safety Index:
85
  • OVERALL RISK: LOW
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
  • MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
  • TERRORISM RISK: LOW
  • SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in Tartu

CityCost of Living Index
Tallinn55.23

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

Share Your Experience

Share
Facebook Pinterest