Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zhongshan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zhongshan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $642 in Zhongshan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $996 in Zhongshan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,350 in Zhongshan, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 87% more than Zhongshan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Zhongshan are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Zhongshan 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$2.80 ¥18.92
286.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$16.98 ¥115
158.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$4.27 ¥28.89
94.61%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.80 ¥18.89
6.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.40 ¥2.72
92.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.27 ¥1.81
70.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$0.73 ¥4.90
193.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$1.69 ¥11.43
69.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.77 ¥11.94
7.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.80 ¥12.17
-60.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$0.97 ¥6.56
96.91%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$1.56 ¥10.54
58.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$12.87 ¥87.0
-39.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$2.59 ¥17.53
138.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$12.62 ¥85.3
-24.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$1.83 ¥12.35
-36.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$0.94 ¥6.36
75.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$0.60 ¥4.06
208.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$1.38 ¥9.30
68.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.50 ¥3.40
42.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$0.73 ¥4.96
-8.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.36 ¥2.44
230.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.51 ¥3.48
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$2.86 ¥19.32
2.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$12.36 ¥83.6
-37.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$0.65 ¥4.38
144.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.93 ¥13.03
19.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.29 ¥1.96
31.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$13.82 ¥93.4
6.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$1.28 ¥8.62
17.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.37 ¥2.52
83.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$7.01 ¥47.39
3.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.13 ¥7.65
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$22.8K ¥154.1K
-18.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$20.3K ¥137.2K
0.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$38.39 ¥259
90.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$8.49 ¥57.4
40.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$11.88 ¥80.3
51.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$63.6 ¥430
-4.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$6.98 ¥47.20
136.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$5.71 ¥38.59
17.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$298 ¥2,014
-9.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$12.5K ¥84.4K
-58.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$44.38 ¥300
72.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$30.38 ¥205
42.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$56.6 ¥382
112.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$69.3 ¥468
59.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$196 ¥1,323
251.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$119 ¥806
294.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$349 ¥2,359
287.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$200 ¥1,354
293.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$2,411 ¥16.3K
2.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$1,457 ¥9,846
-0.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$948 ¥6,409
-30.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
3.83
210.44%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $196 in Zhongshan. 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 44% higher in Zhongshan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $17.00 in Zhongshan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $202 – making Zhongshan 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 Zhongshan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Zhongshan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $642 in Zhongshan – roughly 87% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Zhongshan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $962 in Zhongshan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Zhongshan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhongshan, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi and $17.00 in Zhongshan. 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 Zhongshan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $642 in Zhongshan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zhongshan, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Zhongshan 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 Zhongshan?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $642 in Zhongshan to $1,197 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Zhongshan 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 Zhongshan?
If budget matters most, go with Zhongshan. 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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