Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Qingdao, Shandong Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Qingdao, Shandong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $774 in Qingdao, Shandong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,254 in Qingdao, Shandong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,733 in Qingdao, Shandong, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 56% more than Qingdao, Shandong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Qingdao, Shandong are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Qingdao, Shandong 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.70

$3.41 ¥23.11

216.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$17.86 ¥121

141.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.03

$4.49 ¥30.38

84.63%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.96

$3.31 ¥22.40

-9.37%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.58 ¥3.94

41.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.29 ¥1.94

58.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$0.82 ¥5.53

171.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$2.14 ¥14.48

36.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.96 ¥13.27

-1.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$1.49 ¥10.09

-54.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.99

$0.98 ¥6.65

91.84%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.73

$1.86 ¥12.56

36.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$14.99 ¥101

-50.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.43

$4.19 ¥28.39

47.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.86

$10.40 ¥70.4

-10.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$1.38 ¥9.31

-11.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.21 ¥8.18

37.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$1.97 ¥13.33

-8.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$1.00 ¥6.77

124.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$0.75 ¥5.08

-5.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.08 ¥7.29

-37.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$0.94 ¥6.35

25.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.47 ¥3.18

40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$3.92 ¥26.57

-23.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.21

$14.72 ¥99.6

-48.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.00 ¥6.75

54.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.98

$1.55 ¥10.46

45.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.28 ¥1.89

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.36

$16.95 ¥115

-14.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.96

$1.38 ¥9.31

7.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$0.34 ¥2.30

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.19

$7.50 ¥50.7

-3.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.12 ¥7.59

1.79%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$20.1K ¥136.1K

-8.17%

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

$20.0K ₾53.0K

$13.5K ¥91.6K

47.58%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$52.3 ¥354

40.96%

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

$11.64 ₾30.91

$11.00 ¥74.4

5.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.39

$10.45 ¥70.8

70.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$26.87 ¥182

123.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.63

$20.90 ¥141

-19.62%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.54

$6.88 ¥46.59

-4.07%

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

$266 ₾708

$338 ¥2,290

-21.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$24.2K ¥163.9K

-78.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$75.8 ¥513

2.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$38.07 ¥258

17.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$80.9 ¥548

44.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$101 ¥684

11.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,839

$334 ¥2,262

107.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,226

$194 ¥1,311

138.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,505

$749 ¥5,073

76.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,056

$409 ¥2,772

89.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,455

$3,578 ¥24.2K

-32.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,840

$2,142 ¥14.5K

-32.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,787

$1,127 ¥7,630

-40.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

3.81

212.07%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $334 in Qingdao, Shandong. 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 68% higher in Qingdao, Shandong, 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $18.00 in Qingdao, Shandong. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $221 in Qingdao, Shandong – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Qingdao, Shandong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,161 in Qingdao, Shandong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qingdao, Shandong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $18.00 in Qingdao, Shandong. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Qingdao, Shandong, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Qingdao, Shandong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qingdao, Shandong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Qingdao, Shandong. 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.