Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shelby, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shelby, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $1,963 in Shelby, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $2,711 in Shelby, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $3,459 in Shelby, NC.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 39% less than in Shelby, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Shelby, NC is 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.86 ₾29.20

$13.90 $13.90

-21.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.33 ₾117

$35.26 $35.26

22.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.25 ₾22.19

$9.30 $9.30

-11.29%

Cappuccino

$3.10 ₾8.33

$3.72 $3.72

-16.67%

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

$0.80 ₾2.15

$1.46 $1.46

-45.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.24

$1.22 $1.22

-62.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.81

$2.56 $2.56

-15.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₾7.92

$2.97 $2.97

-1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.19

$0.81 $0.81

138.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$2.67 $2.67

-74.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₾4.91

$3.44 $3.44

-47.09%

Eggs

$2.56 ₾6.88

$4.29 $4.29

-40.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 ₾20.48

$9.52 $9.52

-20.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 ₾17.50

$12.78 $12.78

-49.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.67 ₾26.00

$22.83 $22.83

-57.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.12

$5.02 $5.02

-76.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.36

$1.84 $1.84

-11.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾5.04

$5.08 $5.08

-63.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.26

$3.12 $3.12

-25.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.75

$3.35 $3.35

-80.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₾1.70

$4.74 $4.74

-86.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.17

$2.01 $2.01

-41.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.90

$1.80 $1.80

-61.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 ₾8.17

$8.80 $8.80

-65.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 ₾19.56

$15.03 $15.03

-51.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.27

$2.03 $2.03

-21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₾6.18

$2.64 $2.64

-12.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.96

$1.99 $1.99

-81.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.68 ₾39.48

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾4.03

$2.04 $2.04

-26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₾1.87

$2.39 $2.39

-70.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.35 ₾19.78

$17.84 $17.84

-58.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₾3.05

$0.77 $0.77

46.75%

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

$18.2K ₾49.0K

$23.7K $23.7K

-23.17%

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

$20.2K ₾54.5K

$22.0K $22.0K

-8.17%

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

$74.0 ₾199

$223 $223

-66.89%

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

$11.87 ₾31.93

$34.99 $34.99

-66.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.55 ₾47.20

$49.11 $49.11

-64.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾162

$42.39 $42.39

42.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.69 ₾44.89

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₾18.10

$14.94 $14.94

-54.95%

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

$261 ₾703

$305 $305

-14.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,146 ₾13.8K

$22.4K $22.4K

-76.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.6 ₾209

$49.97 $49.97

55.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾117

$34.85 $34.85

24.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾318

$70.1 $70.1

68.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾298

$80.6 $80.6

37.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 ₾1,891

$1,572 $1,572

-55.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 ₾1,231

$820 $820

-44.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₾3,621

$2,578 $2,578

-47.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₾2,120

$1,152 $1,152

-31.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,560 ₾6,885

$2,496 $2,496

2.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 ₾3,881

$2,447 $2,447

-41.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 ₾1,742

$2,501 $2,501

-74.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

6.38

86.36%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Last update for Shelby, NC: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $1,572 in Shelby, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shelby, NC pays 286% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43 in Tbilisi vs $35 in Shelby, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $393, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Shelby, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Shelby, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Shelby, NC earns 286% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $703 in Tbilisi versus $1,572 in Shelby, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $261 in Tbilisi versus $305 in Shelby, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $35.00 in Shelby, NC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $1,963 in Shelby, NC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Shelby, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,199 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Shelby, NC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Shelby, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.