😐A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $896 in Shchelkovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,407 in Shchelkovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,918 in Shchelkovo, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 39% more than Shchelkovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Shchelkovo are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Shchelkovo35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.44
$5.79₽487
95.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$29.30₽2,465
32.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.72
$7.77₽653
22.52%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.77₽233
23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.89₽74.9
16.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.57₽48.24
12.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$0.90₽75.5
190.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$1.43₽121
126.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$0.95₽79.6
128.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$0.79₽66.1
-6.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.15₽96.4
48.70%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$1.53₽129
84.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.94
$8.88₽747
3.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$4.83₽406
39.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.16
$11.57₽974
10.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.55₽130
5.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.43₽121
23.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.50₽126
24.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$2.52₽212
-3.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$0.69₽58.3
26.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.39₽33.13
66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.63
$1.37₽115
2.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.43₽35.80
72.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$2.10₽177
62.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$6.89₽580
10.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$0.71₽59.5
139.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.19
$1.48₽125
60.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.49₽41.04
-26.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.59
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$3.40₽286
-65.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.16₽13.61
375.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.46
$3.42₽288
231.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$0.76₽63.7
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$34.4K₽2.9M
-28.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$46.6K₽3.9M
-52.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$101₽8,527
-12.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.62
$3.42₽288
289.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$4.62₽389
335.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$34.45₽2,899
99.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾46.99
$22.93₽1,929
-21.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.45
$5.94₽500
13.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾970
$176₽14.8K
112.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$3,491₽293.7K
206.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$41.33₽3,478
144.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$23.17₽1,949
69.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$138₽11.6K
-14.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$118₽9,934
3.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,772
$446₽37.5K
53.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$304₽25.6K
50.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,384
$786₽66.1K
65.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,336
$529₽44.5K
70.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,363
$2,232₽187.8K
9.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,773
$1,434₽120.6K
1.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shchelkovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,694
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
20.75
-39.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Shchelkovo: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $446 in Shchelkovo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $29.00 in Shchelkovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $182 – making Shchelkovo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Shchelkovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shchelkovo cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,344 in Shchelkovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shchelkovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Shchelkovo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi and $29.00 in Shchelkovo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Shchelkovo?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Shchelkovo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shchelkovo, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Shchelkovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Shchelkovo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shchelkovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Shchelkovo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shchelkovo. 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.