Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Shantou: $692 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Shantou
🇨🇳 China
$692
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Shantou and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shantou and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $692 per month in Shantou vs $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Shantou $692
  • Tbilisi $1,266

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Shantou vs $2,007 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Shantou $1,104
  • Tbilisi $2,007

A family of three spends $1,516 per month in Shantou vs $2,749 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Shantou $1,516
  • Tbilisi $2,749

Shantou is about 45% cheaper than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Shantou and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Shantou 49% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ¥15.35
$11.34 ₾29.35
-79.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.70 ¥158
$39.05 ₾101
-39.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥34.59
$9.63 ₾24.93
-46.31%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ¥22.63
$3.46 ₾8.96
-2.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.12
$1.09 ₾2.82
-56.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.05
$0.63 ₾1.62
-50.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ¥5.92
$2.77 ₾7.17
-68.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥14.28
$3.10 ₾8.04
-31.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ¥10.71
$2.25 ₾5.81
-28.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ¥9.73
$0.80 ₾2.08
81.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.18
$1.76 ₾4.55
-56.25%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥11.33
$2.75 ₾7.11
-38.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.63 ¥91.1
$9.39 ₾24.32
45.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ¥22.91
$6.66 ₾17.23
-48.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 ¥88.0
$12.92 ₾33.46
1.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 ¥13.03
$1.67 ₾4.31
16.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.05
$1.80 ₾4.65
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.14
$1.92 ₾4.97
-5.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.70
$2.41 ₾6.24
-46.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 ¥5.49
$0.86 ₾2.23
-4.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.11
$0.69 ₾1.80
53.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.96
$1.40 ₾3.62
-57.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.88
$0.71 ₾1.85
-39.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.69 ¥24.71
$3.51 ₾9.08
5.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.00 ¥80.2
$7.61 ₾19.69
57.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.57
$1.63 ₾4.21
-49.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ¥11.98
$2.31 ₾5.98
-22.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ¥2.41
$0.37 ₾0.96
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.27 ¥162
$15.67 ₾40.57
54.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ¥10.24
$1.14 ₾2.95
34.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.56
$0.79 ₾2.05
-51.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.31 ¥48.86
$11.86 ₾30.71
-38.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥8.25
$1.40 ₾3.62
-12.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ¥132.4K
$24.8K ₾64.2K
-20.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K ¥120.5K
$21.9K ₾56.6K
-17.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.7 ¥379
$89.1 ₾231
-36.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 ¥59.5
$13.21 ₾34.19
-32.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.86 ¥92.7
$19.76 ₾51.2
-29.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$64.9 ₾168
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.02 ₾49.25
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.54 ¥50.5
$6.57 ₾17.02
14.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$540 ¥3,614
$377 ₾975
43.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K ¥162.1K
$10.8K ₾28.0K
124.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 ¥372
$102 ₾265
-45.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 ¥265
$39.70 ₾103
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.1 ¥489
$118 ₾305
-38.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 ¥611
$123 ₾320
-25.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$298 ¥1,991
$666 ₾1,724
-55.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 ¥1,011
$449 ₾1,163
-66.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$602 ¥4,027
$1,284 ₾3,325
-53.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ¥1,969
$890 ₾2,303
-66.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,278 ¥15.2K
$2,425 ₾6,277
-6.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,469 ¥29.9K
$1,380 ₾3,574
223.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shantou
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,062 ¥7,099
$680 ₾1,760
56.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.35
12.62
-73.45%

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

Last update for Shantou: October 13, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Shantou
$214
Tbilisi
$234 9% $19
Accommodation & Living
Shantou
$151
Tbilisi
$449 197% $298
Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
$117
Tbilisi
$172 47.5% $56
Eating Out
Shantou
$86
Tbilisi
$188 118% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
$79
Tbilisi
$122 53.8% $43
Getting Around
Shantou
$29
Tbilisi
$22 23.7% $6.9
Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
$15 *
Tbilisi
$78 417% $63

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Shantou versus $666 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 56% 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 $24.00 in Shantou versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $234 – making Shantou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Shantou
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
16:55 4:55 PM
12:55 12:55 PM
4 h behind Shantou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,389,328
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.345 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shantou Tbilisi 6,840 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Shantou
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $692 in Shantou, $1,266 in Tbilisi – roughly 83% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Shantou compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Shantou and $1,899 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?
Groceries cost about 9% 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Shantou and $39.00 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 $692, than in Tbilisi at $1,266. 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 $692 in Shantou to $1,266 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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