Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shiso Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shiso

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,098 in Shiso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,967 in Shiso, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,836 in Shiso, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 9% more than Shiso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Shiso are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Shiso 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$8.03 ¥1,304
34.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$67.2 ¥10.9K
-34.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$6.27 ¥1,018
32.54%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$3.61 ¥587
-17.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.90 ¥146
-14.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.72 ¥117
-36.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$2.64 ¥429
-18.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$3.15 ¥512
-8.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.52 ¥246
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$2.97 ¥482
-76.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$4.87 ¥792
-60.78%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$2.30 ¥374
7.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$9.99 ¥1,623
-22.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$6.30 ¥1,023
-1.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$26.58 ¥4,319
-64.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$5.33 ¥866
-78.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$2.55 ¥414
-35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$4.09 ¥665
-54.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$5.87 ¥953
-60.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$4.44 ¥721
-84.01%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$2.61 ¥424
-74.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$1.32 ¥215
-9.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.83 ¥135
-20.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$4.11 ¥667
-28.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$7.24 ¥1,176
6.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.91 ¥311
-16.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$2.16 ¥350
6.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$1.30 ¥211
-70.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$33.01 ¥5,363
-55.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$3.53 ¥573
-57.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$2.88 ¥469
-76.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$20.97 ¥3,406
-65.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.28 ¥208
-14.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$23.5K ¥3.8M
-20.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$17.1K ¥2.8M
19.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$146 ¥23.6K
-49.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$65.6 ¥10.7K
-81.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$13.40 ¥2,177
34.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$37.33 ¥6,065
63.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$13.76 ¥2,235
20.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$4.62 ¥751
45.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$279 ¥45.3K
-3.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$13.4K ¥2.2M
-61.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$10.05 ¥1,633
661.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$29.71 ¥4,827
46.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$33.25 ¥5,403
262.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$102 ¥16.6K
8.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$473 ¥76.8K
45.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$165 ¥26.9K
184.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$883 ¥143.5K
53.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$670 ¥108.8K
17.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$4,185 ¥680.0K
-41.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$2,075 ¥337.1K
-29.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shiso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
1.78
567.98%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shiso: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $473 in Shiso. 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $67.0 in Shiso. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $365 – making Tbilisi 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 Shiso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shiso cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,647 in Shiso. 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 Shiso, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Shiso?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $1,098 in Shiso. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Shiso. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Shiso?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shiso, where all-in costs run around $1,098, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Shiso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Shiso more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shiso – 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 Shiso?
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 Shiso. 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.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities