😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,192 in Dorchester versus $1,209 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,306 in Dorchester versus $1,867 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,420 in Dorchester versus $2,526 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Dorchester is roughly 81% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dorchester is 64% above, Tbilisi is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.36£12.19
$10.80₾28.69
51.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9£61.8
$43.18₾115
92.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.59£4.16
$8.29₾22.02
-32.57%
Cappuccino
$4.82£3.59
$3.00₾7.96
60.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80£2.09
$0.82₾2.17
241.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74£1.30
$0.46₾1.21
278.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.79£5.80
$2.23₾5.93
249.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96£5.18
$2.92₾7.74
138.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64£1.22
$1.93₾5.11
-15.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35£1.00
$0.68₾1.81
98.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86£1.38
$1.88₾4.99
-1.06%
Eggs
$3.98£2.96
$2.54₾6.73
56.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10£9.01
$7.42₾19.69
63.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12£6.79
$6.19₾16.43
47.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.79£8.78
$9.36₾24.86
25.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93£2.18
$1.22₾3.25
140.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64£1.22
$1.66₾4.40
-1.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66£1.98
$1.80₾4.78
47.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08£3.04
$2.24₾5.95
82.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04£1.52
$0.71₾1.89
187.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77£1.32
$0.67₾1.79
164.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83£0.62
$1.18₾3.13
-29.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78£1.33
$0.66₾1.76
169.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.54£15.31
$2.98₾7.91
589.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86£8.09
$7.61₾20.20
42.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87£2.14
$1.54₾4.08
86.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75£2.05
$2.25₾5.98
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28£2.44
$0.36₾0.95
811.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.1£67.1
$14.44₾38.35
524.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.59£4.16
$1.49₾3.96
275.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68£1.25
$0.68₾1.82
147.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.58£20.55
$7.23₾19.19
281.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.45
$1.14₾3.04
70.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.4K
$18.5K₾49.0K
106.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K£26.2K
$20.0K₾53.0K
76.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$234£174
$73.7₾196
217.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.79£12.51
$11.64₾30.90
44.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.24£32.96
$17.84₾47.38
147.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33£34.52
$60.1₾160
-22.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80₾44.62
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.73£10.23
$6.60₾17.54
108.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,180£1,624
$266₾707
718.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.7K£18.4K
$5,191₾13.8K
375.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6£45.89
$77.7₾206
-20.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.47£36.86
$44.75₾119
10.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112£83.4
$117₾310
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138£103
$113₾300
22.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234£919
$693₾1,839
78.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,006£749
$462₾1,226
117.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,006£1,494
$1,320₾3,504
51.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,700£1,267
$774₾2,056
119.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,748£4,282
$2,430₾6,454
136.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,446₾3,839
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dorchester
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,830£1,364
$673₾1,786
172.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
11.89
-52.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dorchester: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,234 in Dorchester and $693 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dorchester pays 172% 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: $83.0 in Dorchester vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $203 per month, with Tbilisi 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
Dorchester vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dorchester or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Dorchester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dorchester or Tbilisi?
Dorchester pays 172% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dorchester vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,234 in Dorchester versus $693 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dorchester or Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Dorchester. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dorchester vs Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $83.0 in Dorchester. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Dorchester or Tbilisi?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $2,192 in Dorchester, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Dorchester. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dorchester or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,209 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Dorchester compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Dorchester and Tbilisi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Dorchester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dorchester vs other spots: cost of living compared