😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,117 in Forster versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,104 in Forster versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,090 in Forster versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Forster is roughly 74% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Forster is 58% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.14A$22.81
$10.85₾28.75
48.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$112
$44.17₾117
79.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.33A$11.78
$8.28₾21.94
0.60%
Cappuccino
$3.33A$4.71
$3.02₾8.00
10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49A$3.52
$0.76₾2.02
227.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02A$2.85
$0.46₾1.22
339.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.54A$9.24
$2.24₾5.93
191.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12A$7.24
$3.00₾7.95
70.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02A$1.45
$1.93₾5.11
-47.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81A$3.96
$0.72₾1.91
290.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36A$3.34
$1.84₾4.87
28.26%
Eggs
$3.02A$4.26
$2.45₾6.48
23.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66A$12.23
$7.43₾19.67
16.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64A$9.38
$6.48₾17.16
2.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23A$20.11
$9.70₾25.70
46.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92A$4.12
$1.20₾3.18
143.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90A$2.69
$1.56₾4.14
21.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97A$2.78
$1.79₾4.75
10.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50A$6.35
$2.23₾5.90
101.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64A$2.32
$0.65₾1.73
152.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96A$1.36
$0.68₾1.79
41.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93A$2.72
$1.19₾3.16
62.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25A$1.77
$0.70₾1.86
78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.89A$46.47
$2.95₾7.82
1014.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.14A$19.98
$7.33₾19.41
92.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.72A$6.67
$1.52₾4.02
210.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.49A$7.76
$2.25₾5.95
144.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62A$3.70
$0.36₾0.95
627.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.8A$92.9
$14.60₾38.68
350.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.83A$5.41
$1.50₾3.97
155.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61A$2.27
$0.73₾1.92
120.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.7A$73.0
$7.45₾19.74
593.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19A$1.68
$1.14₾3.01
4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KA$40.2K
$18.5K₾49.0K
53.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KA$31.5K
$20.3K₾53.6K
10.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.9A$91.6
$73.9₾196
-12.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.01A$33.92
$11.71₾31.01
105.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.3A$73.9
$18.16₾48.09
187.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.35A$68.3
$61.7₾163
-21.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.77A$22.28
$16.66₾44.12
-5.34%
Cinema Ticket
$12.27A$17.34
$6.61₾17.50
85.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$327A$462
$264₾700
23.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,843A$5,430
$5,145₾13.6K
-25.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.4A$91.0
$74.9₾198
-13.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.9A$83.2
$43.98₾117
33.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.8A$138
$118₾312
-16.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130A$183
$114₾301
14.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,273A$1,799
$692₾1,833
83.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,049A$1,482
$454₾1,203
130.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,018A$2,851
$1,323₾3,504
52.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,667A$2,355
$789₾2,089
111.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,544A$7,833
$2,431₾6,440
128.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,914A$8,356
$1,441₾3,818
310.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$645₾1,709
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.89
-46.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Forster: June 8, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,273 in Forster and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $79.0 in Forster vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $311 vs $204 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
Forster vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Forster and Tbilisi?
Forster and Tbilisi differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($2,117 vs $1,218 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Forster compared to Tbilisi?
You'd need roughly $3,176 in Forster and $1,827 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Forster and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,273 in Forster versus $692 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Forster and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $327 in Forster versus $264 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Forster. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,117 in Forster, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Forster. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Forster and Tbilisi?
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.
Is Forster or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Forster 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.
Where should expats move: Forster or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Forster. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.