Cost of Living Comparison Between North Shore and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between North Shore and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,815 in North Shore versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,814 in North Shore versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,812 in North Shore versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.

Living in North Shore is roughly 49% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: North Shore is 35% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88 NZ$25.41
$10.85 ₾28.75
37.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.9 NZ$131
$44.17 ₾117
74.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 NZ$14.04
$8.28 ₾21.94
-0.72%
Cappuccino
$3.38 NZ$5.77
$3.02 ₾8.00
11.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 NZ$3.63
$0.76 ₾2.02
178.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 NZ$3.04
$0.46 ₾1.22
286.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.18 NZ$12.27
$2.24 ₾5.93
220.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.44 NZ$12.70
$3.00 ₾7.95
148.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 NZ$2.94
$1.93 ₾5.11
-10.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 NZ$2.66
$0.72 ₾1.91
116.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.40
$1.84 ₾4.87
8.15%
Eggs
$5.84 NZ$9.98
$2.45 ₾6.48
138.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 NZ$14.66
$7.43 ₾19.67
15.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 NZ$15.98
$6.48 ₾17.16
44.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.80 NZ$15.02
$9.70 ₾25.70
-9.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 NZ$4.76
$1.20 ₾3.18
132.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 NZ$3.54
$1.56 ₾4.14
32.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 NZ$5.69
$1.79 ₾4.75
86.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.13 NZ$7.05
$2.23 ₾5.90
85.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 NZ$3.53
$0.65 ₾1.73
216.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 NZ$2.83
$0.68 ₾1.79
142.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 NZ$3.26
$1.19 ₾3.16
60.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 NZ$1.14
$0.70 ₾1.86
-4.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.15 NZ$42.94
$2.95 ₾7.82
752.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.68 NZ$16.52
$7.33 ₾19.41
32.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 NZ$3.14
$1.52 ₾4.02
21.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 NZ$2.10
$2.25 ₾5.95
-45.33%
🚌 Getting Around
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 NZ$4.07
$0.36 ₾0.95
563.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 NZ$111
$14.60 ₾38.68
346.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 NZ$3.55
$1.50 ₾3.97
38.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 NZ$3.26
$0.73 ₾1.92
161.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.84 NZ$59.5
$7.45 ₾19.74
367.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 NZ$2.75
$1.14 ₾3.01
41.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K NZ$48.1K
$18.5K ₾49.0K
52.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K NZ$38.1K
$20.3K ₾53.6K
10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 NZ$249
$73.9 ₾196
97.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.12 NZ$25.83
$11.71 ₾31.01
29.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.64 NZ$74.5
$18.16 ₾48.09
140.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.87 NZ$49.30
$61.7 ₾163
-53.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.12 NZ$20.70
$16.66 ₾44.12
-27.25%
Cinema Ticket
$10.97 NZ$18.74
$6.61 ₾17.50
65.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$896 NZ$1,530
$264 ₾700
239.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K NZ$23.1K
$5,145 ₾13.6K
163.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.3 NZ$122
$74.9 ₾198
-4.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.17 NZ$84.0
$43.98 ₾117
11.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 NZ$160
$118 ₾312
-20.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.2 NZ$154
$114 ₾301
-20.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 NZ$1,810
$692 ₾1,833
53.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 NZ$1,353
$454 ₾1,203
74.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,930 NZ$5,004
$1,323 ₾3,504
121.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,385 NZ$2,365
$789 ₾2,089
75.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,390 NZ$12.6K
$2,431 ₾6,440
203.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,095 NZ$10.4K
$1,441 ₾3,818
322.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Shore
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,927 NZ$4,999
$645 ₾1,709
353.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
11.89
-46.43%

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

Last update for North Shore: June 6, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in North Shore and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

North Shore pays 354% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $77.0 in North Shore vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $204 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

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
North Shore vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in North Shore and Tbilisi?
North Shore and Tbilisi differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($1,815 vs $1,218 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: North Shore or Tbilisi?
North Shore pays 354% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in North Shore and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in North Shore versus $692 in Tbilisi. 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 Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $77.0 in North Shore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: North Shore or Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,815 per month in North Shore versus $1,218 in Tbilisi – a 49% 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,815 in North Shore, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in North Shore. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between North Shore and Tbilisi?
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 North Shore or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, North Shore and Tbilisi 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: North Shore or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in North Shore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

North Shore vs other spots: cost of living compared

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