Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shkoder Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shkoder

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $922 in Shkoder, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,353 in Shkoder, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,784 in Shkoder, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 31% more than Shkoder, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Shkoder are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Shkoder 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.70
$6.04 ALL 496
78.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$32.04 ALL 2,627
34.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.03
$4.61 ALL 378
79.83%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$1.79 ALL 147
67.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.57 ALL 129
-47.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.80 ALL 65.7
-42.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.43 ALL 199
-8.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$3.18 ALL 260
-8.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$2.06 ALL 169
-6.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$0.93 ALL 75.9
-26.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$2.01 ALL 165
-6.47%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$2.91 ALL 239
-12.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$6.87 ALL 563
8.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$4.89 ALL 401
26.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$10.35 ALL 849
-9.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.52 ALL 125
-19.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$2.34 ALL 192
-29.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.66 ALL 136
8.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$1.34 ALL 110
67.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.98 ALL 80.7
-27.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.17 ALL 95.8
-42.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.09 ALL 89.6
8.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.69 ALL 56.9
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$4.13 ALL 338
-27.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.21
$6.22 ALL 510
22.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.46 ALL 120
5.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$1.67 ALL 137
34.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.45 ALL 36.87
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.36
$11.61 ALL 952
24.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$3.60 ALL 295
-58.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$3.07 ALL 252
-77.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$17.92 ALL 1,470
-59.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$2.19 ALL 180
-47.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$34.6K ALL 2.8M
-46.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$24.9K ALL 2.0M
-19.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$67.9 ALL 5,570
8.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.91
$16.90 ALL 1,386
-31.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.39
$16.11 ALL 1,321
10.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$40.50 ALL 3,321
48.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.63
$11.69 ALL 958
43.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$7.20 ALL 590
-8.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$89.0 ALL 7,296
199.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$1,796 ALL 147.3K
189.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$47.65 ALL 3,907
63.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$11.91 ALL 977
275.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$72.0 ALL 5,901
62.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$142 ALL 11.6K
-20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$310 ALL 25.4K
123.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$300 ALL 24.6K
53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,505
$353 ALL 28.9K
274.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$347 ALL 28.4K
123.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,455
$1,819 ALL 149.1K
33.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,840
$1,231 ALL 101.0K
17.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,787
$571 ALL 46.9K
17.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5
137.80%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shkoder: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $310 in Shkoder. 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 18% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $32.00 in Shkoder. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $202 – making Shkoder 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 Shkoder: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Shkoder compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $922 in Shkoder – roughly 31% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Shkoder?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,383 in Shkoder. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Shkoder?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shkoder, 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 $32.00 in Shkoder. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Shkoder?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Tbilisi and $922 in Shkoder. The difference isn't just one category – 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 Shkoder, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Shkoder 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 Shkoder?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $922 in Shkoder to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Shkoder 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Shkoder?
If budget matters most, go with Shkoder. 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.

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