Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $682 per month in Shantou vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,079 per month in Shantou vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Shantou vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Shantou is about 44% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shantou and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Shantou 49% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ¥13.81
$10.80 ₾28.70
-81.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.77 ¥113
$43.18 ₾115
-61.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.85 ¥32.83
$8.29 ₾22.03
-41.50%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ¥22.02
$3.00 ₾7.96
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.21
$0.82 ₾2.17
-42.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.05
$0.46 ₾1.21
-34.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.85 ¥5.78
$2.23 ₾5.93
-61.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 ¥17.73
$2.92 ₾7.75
-10.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ¥11.12
$1.93 ₾5.11
-15.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ¥9.51
$0.68 ₾1.81
107.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.64
$1.88 ₾4.99
-63.83%
Eggs
$1.91 ¥12.95
$2.54 ₾6.73
-24.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.68 ¥85.9
$7.42 ₾19.70
70.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 ¥25.29
$6.19 ₾16.43
-39.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 ¥82.8
$9.36 ₾24.86
30.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥12.30
$1.22 ₾3.25
49.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.95
$1.66 ₾4.40
-11.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.33
$1.80 ₾4.78
-7.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 ¥8.36
$2.24 ₾5.96
-45.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ¥5.51
$0.71 ₾1.89
14.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 ¥6.65
$0.67 ₾1.79
46.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ¥4.32
$1.18 ₾3.13
-45.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 ¥2.75
$0.66 ₾1.76
-37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52 ¥23.81
$2.98 ₾7.91
18.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.35 ¥83.6
$7.61 ₾20.21
62.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.58
$1.54 ₾4.08
-46.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 ¥12.65
$2.25 ₾5.98
-16.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ¥2.48
$0.36 ₾0.95
2.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.53 ¥153
$14.44 ₾38.36
56.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.56 ¥10.55
$1.49 ₾3.96
4.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.23
$0.68 ₾1.82
-51.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.81 ¥46.07
$7.23 ₾19.19
-5.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥7.70
$1.14 ₾3.04
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ¥141.2K
$18.5K ₾49.0K
12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ¥131.1K
$20.0K ₾53.0K
-3.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.3 ¥368
$73.7 ₾196
-26.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.22 ¥55.6
$11.64 ₾30.91
-29.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.89 ¥87.2
$17.84 ₾47.39
-27.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.13 ¥285
$60.1 ₾160
-29.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.10 ¥95.5
$16.80 ₾44.63
-16.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 ¥48.14
$6.60 ₾17.54
7.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$450 ¥3,049
$266 ₾708
69.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K ¥140.0K
$5,191 ₾13.8K
298.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.52 ¥335
$77.7 ₾206
-36.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31 ¥205
$44.75 ₾119
-32.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 ¥513
$117 ₾310
-35.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 ¥538
$113 ₾300
-29.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 ¥1,903
$693 ₾1,839
-59.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ¥933
$462 ₾1,226
-70.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$550 ¥3,726
$1,320 ₾3,505
-58.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ¥1,855
$774 ₾2,056
-64.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,174 ¥21.5K
$2,430 ₾6,455
30.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,799 ¥12.2K
$1,446 ₾3,840
24.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,043 ¥7,062
$673 ₾1,787
55.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
11.89
-66.02%

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

Last update for Shantou: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Shantou versus $693 in Tbilisi. 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 55% higher in Shantou, 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 $17.00 in Shantou versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $209 in Shantou vs $203 in Tbilisi – 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
Shantou vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Shantou and Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $682 in Shantou, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 77% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Shantou compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,023 per month in Shantou and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Shantou and Tbilisi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shantou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Shantou and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shantou, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Shantou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Shantou and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $682 in Shantou to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Shantou or Tbilisi 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 Shantou and Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with Shantou. 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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