Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Shumen: $913 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Shumen, Bulgaria
Tbilisi, Georgia
Shumen
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$913
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Shumen 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 Shumen and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $913 per month in Shumen vs $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Shumen $913
  • Tbilisi $1,269

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Shumen vs $2,016 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Shumen $1,422
  • Tbilisi $2,016

A family of three spends $1,931 per month in Shumen vs $2,763 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Shumen $1,931
  • Tbilisi $2,763

Shumen is about 28% cheaper than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Shumen and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Shumen 33% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.14 BGN 15.99
$11.63 ₾30.07
-21.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.66 BGN 60.7
$37.83 ₾97.8
-8.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 BGN 15.99
$9.66 ₾24.98
-5.38%
Cappuccino
$1.69 BGN 2.96
$3.57 ₾9.24
-52.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 BGN 2.50
$1.08 ₾2.78
32.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 BGN 1.87
$0.56 ₾1.45
91.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 BGN 5.15
$2.62 ₾6.78
12.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 BGN 5.06
$3.04 ₾7.85
-4.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 BGN 3.23
$2.17 ₾5.60
-15.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 BGN 1.89
$0.80 ₾2.06
35.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.57 BGN 4.49
$1.74 ₾4.51
47.70%
Eggs
$2.85 BGN 4.98
$2.83 ₾7.31
0.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.11 BGN 15.94
$9.31 ₾24.07
-2.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.11 BGN 8.95
$6.52 ₾16.85
-21.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 BGN 15.51
$12.95 ₾33.50
-31.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 BGN 2.66
$1.68 ₾4.33
-9.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 BGN 3.57
$1.85 ₾4.79
10.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 BGN 3.80
$1.97 ₾5.10
10.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 BGN 4.02
$2.42 ₾6.25
-4.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 BGN 3.59
$0.82 ₾2.11
150.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 BGN 2.20
$0.74 ₾1.91
68.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 BGN 1.53
$1.34 ₾3.47
-34.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 BGN 1.34
$0.77 ₾2.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.67 BGN 6.41
$3.57 ₾9.24
2.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.00 BGN 12.25
$7.67 ₾19.83
-8.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 BGN 1.69
$1.70 ₾4.39
-42.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 BGN 2.57
$2.40 ₾6.21
-38.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 BGN 1.54
$0.40 ₾1.05
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.12 BGN 45.72
$15.23 ₾39.38
71.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 BGN 3.07
$1.14 ₾2.95
54.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 BGN 0.93
$0.78 ₾2.02
-32.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$11.83 ₾30.58
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 BGN 2.78
$1.45 ₾3.75
9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K BGN 54.1K
$24.6K ₾63.6K
25.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K BGN 39.1K
$22.3K ₾57.8K
-0.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 BGN 232
$88.8 ₾230
49.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.68 BGN 30.94
$13.12 ₾33.93
34.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.94 BGN 29.64
$19.67 ₾50.9
-13.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.15 BGN 66.8
$64.1 ₾166
-40.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.41 BGN 19.97
$19.04 ₾49.24
-40.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 BGN 12.32
$7.12 ₾18.42
-1.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 BGN 982
$375 ₾971
49.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K BGN 18.4K
$10.5K ₾27.1K
0.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.91 BGN 83.8
$104 ₾268
-53.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 BGN 90.4
$39.26 ₾102
31.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 BGN 165
$117 ₾303
-19.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.6 BGN 106
$122 ₾315
-50.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 BGN 460
$695 ₾1,798
-62.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 BGN 315
$451 ₾1,167
-60.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 BGN 748
$1,355 ₾3,504
-68.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 BGN 584
$906 ₾2,343
-63.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,231 BGN 2,154
$2,295 ₾5,934
-46.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$997 BGN 1,744
$1,345 ₾3,478
-25.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shumen
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,024 BGN 1,792
$664 ₾1,718
54.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
12.62
-74.25%

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

Last update for Shumen: October 26, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Shumen
$214
Tbilisi
$234 9.6% $20
Accommodation & Living
Shumen
$180
Tbilisi
$451 151% $271
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shumen
$167
Tbilisi
$122 27.3% $46
Eating Out
Shumen
$151
Tbilisi
$191 25.9% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Shumen
$114
Tbilisi
$172 50.2% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Shumen
$52
Tbilisi
$78 49.9% $26
Getting Around
Shumen
$34
Tbilisi
$22 35.7% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Shumen versus $695 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 54% higher in Shumen, 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 $35 in Shumen versus $38 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $234 – making Shumen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Shumen
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
22:18 10:18 PM
00:18 12:18 AM
2 h ahead of Shumen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,504
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.346 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shumen Tbilisi 1,470 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Shumen
  • 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
Shumen vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Shumen and in Tbilisi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $913 in Shumen, $1,269 in Tbilisi – Shumen comes out roughly 28% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Shumen compared to Tbilisi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,369 per month in Shumen and $1,904 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Shumen and Tbilisi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shumen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $263 there versus $695 in Tbilisi.
Which city is more expensive overall: Shumen or Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $913 in Shumen and $1,269 in Tbilisi. That makes Shumen about 28% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Shumen and in Tbilisi?
Public transport costs about 42% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Shumen, where all-in costs run around $913, than in Tbilisi at $1,269. In Shumen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Shumen and Tbilisi?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $913 in Shumen to $1,269 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Shumen or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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