😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $765 in Shaoxing.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,217 in Shaoxing.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $1,668 in Shaoxing.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 68% more expensive than in Shaoxing, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Shaoxing44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.55
$3.70¥24.79
216.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.8
$22.25¥149
70.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.41
$5.05¥33.84
92.87%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.90
$2.58¥17.28
32.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.76
$0.56¥3.77
89.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.36¥2.42
80.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.05
$1.13¥7.59
138.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.08
$2.49¥16.68
24.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.73
$2.00¥13.42
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.98¥13.28
-59.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$0.74¥4.96
121.62%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.18
$1.68¥11.24
63.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.50
$11.29¥75.7
-20.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.09
$3.34¥22.36
96.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.91
$10.53¥70.6
19.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$1.76¥11.81
-5.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$1.76¥11.76
2.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.03
$1.62¥10.85
19.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$1.06¥7.13
144.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$0.84¥5.64
3.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.68
$0.96¥6.41
-32.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$0.61¥4.07
127.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.70¥4.70
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$3.28¥21.97
2.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.66
$10.38¥69.5
-27.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$0.75¥5.03
114.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$1.62¥10.82
38.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$0.23¥1.54
60.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.41
$19.87¥133
-23.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.05
$1.90¥12.75
-38.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.43¥2.90
86.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.55
$8.66¥58.0
30.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.28¥8.57
3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$19.5K¥130.6K
28.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$18.5K¥124.1K
20.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾232
$47.67¥319
86.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.55
$8.73¥58.5
51.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$8.98¥60.2
116.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾178
$15.57¥104
339.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.73
$6.87¥46.07
171.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.30
$6.87¥46.06
-3.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾948
$831¥5,567
-56.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$24.8K¥166.3K
-57.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$39.69¥266
160.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$31.07¥208
25.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$74.7¥501
56.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$106¥711
15.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,780
$423¥2,834
61.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,165
$227¥1,524
96.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,349
$591¥3,958
117.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,399
$445¥2,980
106.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,486
$6,402¥42.9K
-61.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,711
$3,627¥24.3K
-60.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,684
$897¥6,008
-27.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
3.35
280.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Shaoxing: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $423 in Shaoxing. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shaoxing pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $22.00 in Shaoxing for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $206 per month, with Shaoxing 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
Tbilisi vs Shaoxing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Shaoxing?
Tbilisi and Shaoxing differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($1,286 vs $765 including rent). Shaoxing is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Shaoxing. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Shaoxing?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $423 in Shaoxing. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Shaoxing?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $831 in Shaoxing. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $765 in Shaoxing versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shaoxing but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Shaoxing the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Shaoxing?
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.
Is Tbilisi or Shaoxing safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Shaoxing are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Shaoxing?
Expats usually find Shaoxing gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.