🙂A single person spends $927 per month in Shkoder vs $1,197 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Shkoder vs $1,868 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,772 per month in Shkoder vs $2,538 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂Shkoder is about 23% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Shkoder and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Shkoder31% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95ALL 486
$10.82₾28.39
-45.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.15ALL 2,621
$43.85₾115
-26.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84ALL 395
$8.31₾21.80
-41.76%
Cappuccino
$1.81ALL 148
$2.97₾7.78
-39.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60ALL 130
$0.77₾2.01
107.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82ALL 66.5
$0.46₾1.20
78.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31ALL 189
$2.14₾5.63
7.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36ALL 274
$2.87₾7.52
17.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06ALL 168
$1.90₾4.99
8.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87ALL 71.2
$0.71₾1.86
22.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95ALL 159
$1.91₾5.00
2.09%
Eggs
$2.94ALL 239
$2.48₾6.52
18.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87ALL 560
$7.74₾20.29
-11.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.99ALL 407
$6.18₾16.21
-19.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.33ALL 842
$9.57₾25.12
7.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52ALL 124
$1.17₾3.06
29.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37ALL 193
$1.65₾4.34
43.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74ALL 142
$1.85₾4.84
-5.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38ALL 112
$2.33₾6.11
-40.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01ALL 82.5
$0.71₾1.85
42.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21ALL 98.7
$0.67₾1.76
80.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11ALL 90.2
$1.19₾3.12
-6.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.2
$0.66₾1.72
12.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09ALL 334
$2.92₾7.65
40.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.02ALL 491
$7.69₾20.18
-21.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44ALL 118
$1.59₾4.18
-9.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ALL 141
$2.31₾6.06
-25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALL 39.85
$0.38₾1.01
28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.40ALL 930
$14.76₾38.72
-22.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46ALL 282
$1.50₾3.92
130.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.12ALL 255
$0.68₾1.77
358.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.64ALL 1,439
$7.26₾19.04
142.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10ALL 171
$1.09₾2.87
92.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KALL 2.9M
$18.6K₾48.8K
88.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KALL 2.0M
$20.5K₾53.7K
21.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.9ALL 5,454
$73.0₾192
-8.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.83ALL 1,373
$11.97₾31.41
40.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.08ALL 1,311
$18.00₾47.22
-10.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.52ALL 3,386
$61.0₾160
-31.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87ALL 968
$16.52₾43.34
-28.15%
Cinema Ticket
$7.02ALL 573
$6.70₾17.58
4.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$87.5ALL 7,137
$269₾705
-67.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,756ALL 143.2K
$5,152₾13.5K
-65.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.51ALL 3,793
$76.5₾201
-39.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.56ALL 943
$43.41₾114
-73.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6ALL 5,672
$120₾316
-42.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142ALL 11.6K
$111₾290
28.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$306ALL 24.9K
$687₾1,803
-55.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298ALL 24.3K
$470₾1,234
-36.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$357ALL 29.1K
$1,353₾3,550
-73.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339ALL 27.6K
$789₾2,069
-57.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,825ALL 148.9K
$2,468₾6,473
-26.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223ALL 99.7K
$1,456₾3,818
-15.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shkoder
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$572ALL 46.7K
$659₾1,729
-13.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.89
-57.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shkoder: July 12, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Shkoder versus $687 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 15% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Shkoder versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $205 – making Shkoder the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Shkoder vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Shkoder and in Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Shkoder, $1,197 in Tbilisi – roughly 29% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Shkoder compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Shkoder and $1,796 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Shkoder and Tbilisi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shkoder, 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 $32.00 in Shkoder and $44.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Shkoder or Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $927 in Shkoder and $1,197 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shkoder, where all-in costs run around $927, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Shkoder it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Shkoder and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $927 in Shkoder to $1,197 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Shkoder 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 Shkoder and Tbilisi?
If budget matters most, go with Shkoder. 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.