Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shymkent and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Shymkent versus $1,286 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Shymkent versus $2,044 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,928 in Shymkent versus $2,802 in Tbilisi.

Living in Shymkent costs roughly 40% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shymkent 43% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 ₸4,907

$11.72 ₾30.58

-8.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.49 ₸14.8K

$37.88 ₾98.9

-14.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ₸3,021

$9.74 ₾25.43

-31.93%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₸1,091

$3.41 ₾8.91

-29.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸467

$1.06 ₾2.77

-3.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸242

$0.65 ₾1.69

-18.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 ₸480

$2.70 ₾7.06

-61.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸607

$3.10 ₾8.09

-57.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₸666

$2.20 ₾5.74

-33.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₸193

$0.81 ₾2.10

-48.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 ₸783

$1.64 ₾4.27

4.88%

Eggs

$1.63 ₸741

$2.75 ₾7.19

-40.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 ₸4,670

$9.01 ₾23.52

13.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 ₸2,343

$6.55 ₾17.10

-21.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.80 ₸4,009

$12.62 ₾32.94

-30.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 ₸538

$1.67 ₾4.36

-29.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ₸954

$1.81 ₾4.73

15.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ₸1,139

$1.93 ₾5.04

29.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 ₸614

$2.59 ₾6.76

-47.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ₸244

$0.87 ₾2.26

-39.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸181

$0.65 ₾1.69

-38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₸392

$1.39 ₾3.63

-38.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸380

$0.80 ₾2.08

3.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₸1,121

$3.36 ₾8.78

-26.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.36 ₸1,987

$7.54 ₾19.68

-42.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₸476

$1.61 ₾4.21

-35.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸703

$2.25 ₾5.86

-31.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 ₸60.1

$0.37 ₾0.96

-64.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₸377

$1.17 ₾3.06

-29.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ₸166

$0.80 ₾2.09

-53.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.78 ₸4,457

$11.33 ₾29.58

-13.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 ₸267

$1.33 ₾3.47

-55.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.9K ₸12.2M

$25.0K ₾65.2K

7.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.0K ₸13.2M

$22.4K ₾58.4K

29.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$46.53 ₸21.2K

$89.1 ₾233

-47.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.10 ₸4,145

$13.25 ₾34.58

-31.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.64 ₸6,671

$19.46 ₾50.8

-24.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₸17.6K

$68.4 ₾179

-43.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 ₸3,920

$18.68 ₾48.77

-53.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₸2,462

$6.63 ₾17.32

-18.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$56.5 ₸25.7K

$363 ₾949

-84.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.70 ₸16.3K

$104 ₾270

-65.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.12 ₸15.1K

$38.84 ₾101

-14.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ₸82.9K

$117 ₾304

56.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 ₸23.7K

$123 ₾320

-57.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸151.8K

$682 ₾1,782

-51.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₸91.9K

$447 ₾1,166

-54.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₸315.7K

$1,284 ₾3,353

-46.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 ₸250.7K

$920 ₾2,401

-40.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 ₸489.6K

$2,487 ₾6,492

-56.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 ₸443.6K

$1,423 ₾3,715

-31.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 ₸196.9K

$646 ₾1,686

-33.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

12.73

43.36%

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

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Shymkent and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 49% 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: $32.00 in Shymkent vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $232 per month, with Shymkent 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

Shymkent vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shymkent and Tbilisi differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($776 vs $1,286 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $333 in Shymkent versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $56.5 in Shymkent versus $363 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $776 in Shymkent versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shymkent but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Shymkent the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Shymkent 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.

Expats usually find Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.