Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shaoxing Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shaoxing

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $676 in Shaoxing.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,078 in Shaoxing.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,480 in Shaoxing.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 77% more expensive than in Shaoxing, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Shaoxing 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$2.83 ¥19.13
282.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$21.26 ¥144
106.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$4.29 ¥29.00
93.71%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.81 ¥18.98
5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.44 ¥2.97
75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.26 ¥1.77
76.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$0.68 ¥4.61
214.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$1.65 ¥11.17
73.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$2.26 ¥15.27
-15.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$2.12 ¥14.33
-66.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$0.77 ¥5.17
148.05%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$1.53 ¥10.34
62.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$7.71 ¥52.1
0.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$2.82 ¥19.04
119.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$8.96 ¥60.5
6.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$1.89 ¥12.76
-38.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$1.38 ¥9.36
19.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.59 ¥10.77
16.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$1.17 ¥7.90
99.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.94 ¥6.33
-24.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$0.97 ¥6.54
-30.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.76 ¥5.16
56.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.61 ¥4.13
8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$3.43 ¥23.18
-14.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$10.21 ¥69.0
-24.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$0.74 ¥5.02
114.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.49 ¥10.08
55.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.27 ¥1.81
40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$16.86 ¥114
-12.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$1.52 ¥10.25
-1.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.39 ¥2.61
74.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$8.42 ¥56.9
-13.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.18 ¥7.95
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$17.3K ¥117.2K
7.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$14.2K ¥96.3K
43.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$42.53 ¥287
71.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$10.97 ¥74.1
9.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$10.95 ¥74.0
64.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$41.03 ¥277
48.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$14.12 ¥95.4
17.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$5.64 ¥38.13
18.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$407 ¥2,753
-34.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$18.5K ¥124.8K
-72.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$42.88 ¥290
78.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$30.15 ¥204
43.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$69.5 ¥469
73.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$65.5 ¥442
68.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$277 ¥1,871
148.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$187 ¥1,267
150.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$602 ¥4,069
124.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$364 ¥2,460
116.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$3,105 ¥21.0K
-20.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$1,850 ¥12.5K
-21.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shaoxing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$916 ¥6,191
-28.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
3.87
207.24%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shaoxing: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $277 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $21.00 in Shaoxing for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $189 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 77% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $676 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: $687 in Tbilisi versus $277 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $407 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 8% 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 $676 in Shaoxing versus $1,197 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 77% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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