Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $776 in Shymkent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Tbilisi versus $1,352 in Shymkent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Tbilisi versus $1,928 in Shymkent.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 66% more expensive than in Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.58

$10.77 ₸4,907

8.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.9

$32.49 ₸14.8K

16.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.43

$6.63 ₸3,021

46.91%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.91

$2.39 ₸1,091

42.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₾2.77

$1.02 ₸467

3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.53 ₸242

22.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.06

$1.05 ₸480

157.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.09

$1.33 ₸607

133.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.74

$1.46 ₸666

50.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$0.42 ₸193

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$1.72 ₸783

-4.65%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.19

$1.63 ₸741

68.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.52

$10.25 ₸4,670

-12.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.10

$5.14 ₸2,343

27.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.94

$8.80 ₸4,009

43.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$1.18 ₸538

41.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

$2.09 ₸954

-13.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.04

$2.50 ₸1,139

-22.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$1.35 ₸614

91.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$0.53 ₸244

64.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.40 ₸181

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

$0.86 ₸392

61.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$0.83 ₸380

-3.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$2.46 ₸1,121

36.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.68

$4.36 ₸1,987

72.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$1.04 ₸476

54.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

$1.54 ₸703

46.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.13 ₸60.1

184.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$0.83 ₸377

40.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

$0.37 ₸166

116.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.58

$9.78 ₸4,457

15.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$0.59 ₸267

125.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K ₾65.2K

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-7.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K ₾58.4K

$29.0K ₸13.2M

-22.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.1 ₾233

$46.53 ₸21.2K

91.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.25 ₾34.58

$9.10 ₸4,145

45.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

$14.64 ₸6,671

32.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾179

$38.70 ₸17.6K

76.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.77

$8.60 ₸3,920

117.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.32

$5.40 ₸2,462

22.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$363 ₾949

$56.5 ₸25.7K

543.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

$35.70 ₸16.3K

189.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

$33.12 ₸15.1K

17.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

$182 ₸82.9K

-35.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

$52.1 ₸23.7K

135.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,782

$333 ₸151.8K

104.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,166

$202 ₸91.9K

121.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,353

$693 ₸315.7K

85.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,401

$550 ₸250.7K

67.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,492

$1,075 ₸489.6K

131.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,715

$974 ₸443.6K

46.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,686

$432 ₸196.9K

49.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

18.25

-30.25%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $333 in Shymkent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $32.00 in Shymkent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $183 per month, with Shymkent 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 Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and Shymkent differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,286 vs $776 including rent). Shymkent is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $333 in Shymkent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $56.5 in Shymkent. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Shymkent – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $776 in Shymkent versus $1,286 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shymkent but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Shymkent the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Shymkent are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Shymkent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.