😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $677 in Shijiazhuang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,023 in Shijiazhuang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $1,369 in Shijiazhuang.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 90% more expensive than in Shijiazhuang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi6% lower, Shijiazhuang51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72₾30.58
$1.74¥11.67
573.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88₾98.9
$18.51¥124
104.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₾25.43
$5.48¥36.77
77.74%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.91
$3.22¥21.63
5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₾2.77
$0.47¥3.12
125.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.25¥1.66
160.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70₾7.06
$0.83¥5.60
225.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10₾8.09
$1.67¥11.19
85.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20₾5.74
$1.28¥8.56
71.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.13¥7.58
-28.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$0.72¥4.85
127.78%
Eggs
$2.75₾7.19
$1.23¥8.22
123.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01₾23.52
$16.15¥108
-44.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55₾17.10
$2.66¥17.86
146.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62₾32.94
$9.41¥63.2
34.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₾4.36
$1.62¥10.84
3.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₾4.73
$1.16¥7.81
56.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₾5.04
$0.76¥5.08
153.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59₾6.76
$1.21¥8.11
114.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$0.60¥4.05
45.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.69
$0.61¥4.10
6.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₾3.63
$0.61¥4.09
127.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.08
$0.43¥2.91
86.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₾8.78
$3.63¥24.32
-7.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54₾19.68
$3.74¥25.10
101.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61₾4.21
$0.78¥5.20
106.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.86
$0.76¥5.12
196.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₾0.96
$0.31¥2.08
19.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.11₾39.45
$17.86¥120
-15.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.17¥7.87
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80₾2.09
$0.38¥2.52
110.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.33₾29.58
$3.48¥23.33
225.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.47
$1.23¥8.23
8.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K₾65.2K
$18.9K¥127.0K
32.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₾58.4K
$16.9K¥113.3K
32.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₾233
$94.5¥634
-5.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25₾34.58
$4.20¥28.15
215.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46₾50.8
$6.77¥45.41
187.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4₾179
$13.45¥90.3
408.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68₾48.77
$14.65¥98.3
27.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63₾17.32
$5.52¥37.03
20.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$363₾949
$371¥2,492
-2.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$5,269¥35.4K
102.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₾270
$49.12¥330
110.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84₾101
$25.91¥174
49.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾304
$73.2¥491
59.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123₾320
$54.1¥363
126.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,782
$285¥1,914
139.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,166
$184¥1,235
142.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,284₾3,353
$411¥2,757
212.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920₾2,401
$278¥1,866
230.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,487₾6,492
$2,452¥16.5K
1.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423₾3,715
$1,699¥11.4K
-16.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shijiazhuang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646₾1,686
$823¥5,520
-21.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
3.31
284.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Shijiazhuang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $285 in Shijiazhuang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shijiazhuang pays 27% 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 $19.00 in Shijiazhuang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $170 per month, with Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Shijiazhuang?
Shijiazhuang wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shijiazhuang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Shijiazhuang?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Shijiazhuang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Shijiazhuang?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $285 in Shijiazhuang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Shijiazhuang?
A monthly transit pass in Shijiazhuang runs roughly 18% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Shijiazhuang?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $371 in Shijiazhuang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Shijiazhuang?
At $677 in Shijiazhuang versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shijiazhuang but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Shijiazhuang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Shijiazhuang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Shijiazhuang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $677 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Shijiazhuang hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Shijiazhuang?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Shijiazhuang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Shijiazhuang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.