Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shiga Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shiga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,205 in Shiga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,868 in Shiga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,530 in Shiga, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 1% more than Shiga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Shiga are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Shiga 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$6.80 ¥1,087

59.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$34.05 ¥5,446

29.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

$4.96 ¥793

66.94%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$2.70 ¥431

11.85%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$1.09 ¥175

-30.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.76 ¥122

-39.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$2.78 ¥445

-19.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$4.23 ¥677

-29.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.31 ¥209

47.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$1.41 ¥226

-48.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$4.04 ¥646

-54.46%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$2.44 ¥390

0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$10.61 ¥1,697

-29.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$6.46 ¥1,034

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$19.01 ¥3,040

-48.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$3.66 ¥585

-67.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$2.09 ¥334

-25.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$2.61 ¥417

-31.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$4.34 ¥694

-48.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$1.66 ¥265

-60.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.29 ¥207

-47.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$1.32 ¥212

-9.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.89 ¥142

-21.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$3.97 ¥635

-25.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$9.23 ¥1,477

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$2.11 ¥338

-27.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$2.97 ¥475

-24.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$1.67 ¥266

-78.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

$55.4 ¥8,858

-73.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$4.56 ¥730

-67.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$3.32 ¥531

-78.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$23.32 ¥3,730

-68.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$1.16 ¥185

-1.72%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$22.8K ¥3.6M

-18.73%

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$17.0K ¥2.7M

18.89%

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

$73.9 ₾196

$134 ¥21.5K

-44.98%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

$27.40 ¥4,382

-57.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$30.82 ¥4,929

-41.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$56.2 ¥8,987

9.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

$13.92 ¥2,227

19.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

$12.63 ¥2,020

-47.66%

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

$264 ₾700

$69.5 ¥11.1K

280.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$10.2K ¥1.6M

-49.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$44.76 ¥7,159

67.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$29.23 ¥4,674

50.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$66.6 ¥10.7K

76.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$96.4 ¥15.4K

17.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$466 ¥74.5K

48.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$324 ¥51.9K

40.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$854 ¥136.5K

55.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$651 ¥104.2K

21.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

$4,201 ¥671.9K

-42.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

$2,670 ¥427.0K

-46.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

$1,176 ¥188.1K

-45.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

1.81

556.91%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Shiga: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $466 in Shiga. 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 82% higher in Shiga, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $34.00 in Shiga. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $296 in Shiga – 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 Shiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $1,205 in Shiga – roughly 1% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,808 in Shiga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $69.5 in Shiga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 45% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shiga, where all-in costs run around $1,205, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Shiga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,205 in Shiga to $1,218 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Shiga. 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.