Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Changshu

For one person, living is cheaper in Changshu: $712 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Changshu
🇨🇳 China
$712
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Changshu

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Tbilisi versus $712 in Changshu.

  • Tbilisi $1,266
  • Changshu $712

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Tbilisi versus $1,128 in Changshu.

  • Tbilisi $2,007
  • Changshu $1,128

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,749 in Tbilisi versus $1,544 in Changshu.

  • Tbilisi $2,749
  • Changshu $1,544

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 78% more expensive than in Changshu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Changshu 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 ₾29.35
$2.83 ¥18.91
300.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.05 ₾101
$21.95 ¥147
77.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 ₾24.92
$4.91 ¥32.85
96.13%
Cappuccino
$3.46 ₾8.95
$2.93 ¥19.60
18.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.82
$0.46 ¥3.08
136.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.62
$0.27 ¥1.79
133.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 ₾7.17
$0.87 ¥5.82
218.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.04
$2.04 ¥13.66
51.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ₾5.81
$1.88 ¥12.59
19.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$1.55 ¥10.38
-48.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₾4.55
$0.89 ¥5.97
97.75%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.11
$1.58 ¥10.58
74.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 ₾24.32
$12.80 ¥85.6
-26.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 ₾17.23
$3.16 ¥21.10
110.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 ₾33.45
$10.02 ¥67.0
28.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.87 ¥12.49
-10.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.65
$1.25 ¥8.35
44.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₾4.97
$1.55 ¥10.37
23.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₾6.24
$1.15 ¥7.70
109.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₾2.23
$0.70 ¥4.66
22.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$0.95 ¥6.33
-27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$0.56 ¥3.72
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.51 ¥3.39
39.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$3.22 ¥21.52
9.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾19.69
$10.47 ¥70.0
-27.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$0.78 ¥5.22
108.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾5.98
$1.57 ¥10.53
47.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.27 ¥1.79
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.67 ₾40.57
$16.48 ¥110
-4.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$1.42 ¥9.51
-19.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.33 ¥2.17
139.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.86 ₾30.70
$6.63 ¥44.35
78.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$1.12 ¥7.52
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.2K
$19.6K ¥130.7K
26.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ₾56.6K
$17.2K ¥115.1K
26.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾231
$46.01 ¥308
93.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.21 ₾34.19
$9.96 ¥66.6
32.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.76 ₾51.1
$11.63 ¥77.8
69.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 ₾168
$41.09 ¥275
57.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 ₾49.24
$14.00 ¥93.6
35.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 ₾17.02
$5.81 ¥38.83
13.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾975
$329 ¥2,198
14.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾27.9K
$16.9K ¥112.9K
-36.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$43.18 ¥289
136.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 ₾103
$30.03 ¥201
32.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$72.2 ¥483
63.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$71.7 ¥479
72.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 ₾1,724
$280 ¥1,870
138.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₾1,163
$192 ¥1,283
134.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,324
$597 ¥3,995
114.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,303
$357 ¥2,385
149.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,425 ₾6,276
$2,988 ¥20.0K
-18.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,380 ₾3,573
$2,068 ¥13.8K
-33.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Changshu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$680 ₾1,760
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
3.89
224.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Last update for Changshu: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$449
Changshu
$192 57.3% $257
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Changshu
$198 15.4% $36
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$188
Changshu
$84 55.4% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Changshu
$98 43.3% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Changshu
$68 44.6% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Changshu
$53 32.5% $25
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Changshu
$21 7.5% $1.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Tbilisi and $280 in Changshu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $22.00 in Changshu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $198 per month, with Changshu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇨🇳 Changshu
🕒 Local time
09:28 9:28 AM
13:28 1:28 PM
4 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
1,677,050
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Changshu 6,650 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Changshu

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
Tbilisi vs Changshu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Changshu cheaper than Tbilisi?
Changshu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Tbilisi and $1,068 in Changshu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Changshu?
Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Tbilisi versus $280 in Changshu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Changshu?
Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Changshu?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Tbilisi versus $712 in Changshu – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Changshu?
At $712 in Changshu versus $1,266 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changshu but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Changshu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Changshu more family-friendly?
For families, Changshu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Changshu?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Changshu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Changshu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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