😐A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $647 in Zhongshan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,854 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,008 in Zhongshan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,491 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,368 in Zhongshan, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 88% more than Zhongshan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Zhongshan are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Zhongshan52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78₾29.00
$2.71¥18.49
297.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10₾116
$16.90¥115
155.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27₾22.24
$4.26¥29.10
94.13%
Cappuccino
$2.95₾7.94
$2.83¥19.31
4.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.05
$0.41¥2.77
85.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.13
$0.29¥1.99
44.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾6.03
$0.73¥4.96
206.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.71
$1.66¥11.33
72.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.19
$1.73¥11.83
11.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.84
$1.80¥12.27
-62.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.97
$0.96¥6.58
92.71%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.69
$1.64¥11.20
51.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54₾20.27
$12.73¥87.0
-40.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35₾17.09
$2.62¥17.92
142.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.43₾25.38
$12.46¥85.1
-24.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.88¥12.87
-37.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58₾4.26
$0.94¥6.42
68.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86₾5.00
$0.65¥4.42
186.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾6.03
$1.32¥9.04
69.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66₾1.79
$0.50¥3.42
32.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.83
$0.71¥4.87
-4.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.17
$0.37¥2.50
218.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.77
$0.51¥3.48
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07₾8.25
$2.83¥19.30
8.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56₾20.34
$14.39¥98.3
-47.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.08
$0.61¥4.15
149.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29₾6.15
$1.84¥12.58
24.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35₾0.95
$0.27¥1.84
29.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.79₾39.78
$13.73¥93.8
7.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45₾3.90
$1.27¥8.67
14.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.34¥2.35
114.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.35₾19.78
$6.88¥46.98
6.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.93
$1.18¥8.05
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K₾49.5K
$22.6K¥154.7K
-18.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾54.5K
$20.0K¥136.9K
1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.3₾197
$38.37¥262
91.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.72₾31.53
$8.22¥56.1
42.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87₾48.08
$12.01¥82.1
48.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2₾165
$62.8¥429
-2.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34₾43.94
$6.92¥47.24
136.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59₾17.73
$5.54¥37.83
18.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261₾702
$294¥2,008
-11.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,156₾13.9K
$12.8K¥87.3K
-59.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1₾205
$43.57¥298
74.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83₾118
$30.32¥207
44.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121₾325
$56.5¥386
113.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾304
$70.9¥484
59.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696₾1,873
$194¥1,326
258.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,226
$118¥807
285.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,301₾3,500
$346¥2,360
276.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768₾2,067
$198¥1,352
288.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,500₾6,725
$2,432¥16.6K
2.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,432₾3,853
$1,450¥9,906
-1.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Zhongshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$653₾1,756
$843¥5,760
-22.58%
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: April 13, 2026
Last update for Zhongshan: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Tbilisi versus $194 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 29% 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 $43 in Tbilisi versus $17 in Zhongshan. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $205 in Zhongshan – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Zhongshan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $647 in Zhongshan – roughly 88% 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 $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $971 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 $43.00 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi and $647 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 $647, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. 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 $647 in Zhongshan to $1,218 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.