😐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 – Tbilisi10% lower, Shkoder31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$6.04ALL 496
78.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$32.04ALL 2,627
34.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$4.61ALL 378
79.83%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$1.79ALL 147
67.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.57ALL 129
-47.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.80ALL 65.7
-42.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.43ALL 199
-8.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.18ALL 260
-8.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$2.06ALL 169
-6.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.93ALL 75.9
-26.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$2.01ALL 165
-6.47%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$2.91ALL 239
-12.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$6.87ALL 563
8.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$4.89ALL 401
26.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$10.35ALL 849
-9.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.52ALL 125
-19.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.34ALL 192
-29.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.66ALL 136
8.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.34ALL 110
67.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.98ALL 80.7
-27.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.17ALL 95.8
-42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.09ALL 89.6
8.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.69ALL 56.9
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$4.13ALL 338
-27.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$6.22ALL 510
22.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.46ALL 120
5.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$1.67ALL 137
34.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.45ALL 36.87
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$11.61ALL 952
24.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$3.60ALL 295
-58.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$3.07ALL 252
-77.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$17.92ALL 1,470
-59.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$2.19ALL 180
-47.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$34.6KALL 2.8M
-46.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$24.9KALL 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
$67.9ALL 5,570
8.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$16.90ALL 1,386
-31.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$16.11ALL 1,321
10.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$40.50ALL 3,321
48.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$11.69ALL 958
43.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$7.20ALL 590
-8.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$89.0ALL 7,296
199.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$1,796ALL 147.3K
189.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$47.65ALL 3,907
63.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$11.91ALL 977
275.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$72.0ALL 5,901
62.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$142ALL 11.6K
-20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$310ALL 25.4K
123.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$300ALL 24.6K
53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$353ALL 28.9K
274.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$347ALL 28.4K
123.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$1,819ALL 149.1K
33.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$1,231ALL 101.0K
17.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Shkoder
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$571ALL 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.