Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and ShimlaCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shimla
Monthly Cost of Living
๐A single person spends $1,199 per month in Tbilisi vs $337 in Shimla, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,833 per month in Tbilisi vs $539 in Shimla, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,466 per month in Tbilisi vs $742 in Shimla, rent included.
๐Tbilisi costs about 256% more than Shimla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Tbilisi and Shimla are more affordable than the global median โ Tbilisi11% lower, Shimla75% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86โพ29.20
$1.78โน167
510.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33โพ117
$5.90โน554
634.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25โพ22.19
$3.56โน334
131.74%
Cappuccino
$3.10โพ8.33
$0.93โน87.2
233.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80โพ2.15
$0.31โน29.53
158.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46โพ1.24
$0.15โน14.11
206.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16โพ5.81
$1.62โน152
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94โพ7.92
$2.30โน216
27.83%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93โพ5.19
$0.75โน70.7
157.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67โพ1.81
$0.44โน41.38
52.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82โพ4.91
$0.64โน59.8
184.38%
Eggs
$2.56โพ6.88
$0.86โน80.3
197.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61โพ20.48
$4.36โน409
74.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51โพ17.50
$3.70โน347
75.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67โพ26.00
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.16โพ3.12
$1.97โน185
-41.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62โพ4.36
$0.70โน65.5
131.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87โพ5.04
$0.82โน76.7
128.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33โพ6.26
$0.56โน52.3
316.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65โพ1.75
$0.35โน32.54
85.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63โพ1.70
$0.44โน41.34
43.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18โพ3.17
$0.22โน20.63
436.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70โพ1.90
$0.34โน31.54
105.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04โพ8.17
$4.46โน418
-31.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27โพ19.56
$5.26โน494
38.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59โพ4.27
$1.69โน159
-5.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30โพ6.18
$2.25โน211
2.22%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.91โน555
-
๐ Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36โพ0.96
$0.22โน20.53
63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.68โพ39.48
$8.78โน824
67.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50โพ4.03
$0.83โน77.8
80.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70โพ1.87
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35โพ19.78
$1.18โน110
522.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13โพ3.05
$1.19โน111
-5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2Kโพ49.0K
$15.0Kโน1.4M
21.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2Kโพ54.5K
$19.7Kโน1.8M
2.85%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0โพ199
$19.05โน1,788
288.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87โพ31.93
$3.45โน324
244.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55โพ47.20
$7.69โน721
128.22%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3โพ162
$14.60โน1,370
313.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69โพ44.89
$7.20โน676
131.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73โพ18.10
$3.44โน323
95.64%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261โพ703
$46.07โน4,324
467.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,146โพ13.8K
$2,352โน220.8K
118.79%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6โพ209
$33.31โน3,127
132.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48โพ117
$28.80โน2,704
50.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118โพ318
$46.18โน4,334
156.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111โพ298
$29.10โน2,731
280.96%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703โพ1,891
$94.6โน8,878
643.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457โพ1,231
$58.3โน5,467
685.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346โพ3,621
$223โน20.9K
504.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788โพ2,120
$138โน13.0K
470.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,560โพ6,885
$955โน89.6K
167.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443โพ3,881
$515โน48.3K
180.33%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shimla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$648โพ1,742
$577โน54.1K
12.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
8.25
44.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026
Last update for Shimla: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Tbilisi versus $95 in Shimla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 12% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Tbilisi versus $6 in Shimla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $100 โ making Shimla 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 Shimla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Shimla compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi, $337 in Shimla โ roughly 256% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Shimla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,799 per month in Tbilisi and $506 in Shimla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Shimla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shimla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $6.00 in Shimla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Shimla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,199 in Tbilisi and $337 in Shimla. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shimla, where all-in costs run around $337, than in Tbilisi at $1,199. In Shimla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Shimla?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $337 in Shimla to $1,199 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Shimla safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Shimla?
If budget matters most, go with Shimla. 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.