😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,644 in Forster versus $1,247 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,772 in Forster versus $2,025 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,900 in Forster versus $2,803 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Forster is roughly 112% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Forster is 93% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.09A$25.39
$11.33₾29.44
59.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.7A$130
$38.71₾101
139.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.86A$15.25
$9.52₾24.72
14.08%
Cappuccino
$4.16A$5.84
$3.41₾8.85
21.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77A$3.89
$1.04₾2.71
166.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17A$3.05
$0.64₾1.66
239.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.94A$9.75
$2.61₾6.79
165.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.78A$8.11
$3.24₾8.43
78.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75A$2.46
$2.17₾5.65
-19.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83A$3.97
$0.74₾1.92
282.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38A$3.34
$1.71₾4.45
39.18%
Eggs
$5.63A$7.91
$2.83₾7.36
98.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.43A$17.45
$9.22₾23.94
34.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.55A$13.40
$6.76₾17.55
41.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.54A$23.22
$12.77₾33.16
29.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66A$5.14
$1.64₾4.26
123.17%
Banana(1kg)
$3.07A$4.31
$1.77₾4.60
73.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50A$4.92
$1.87₾4.85
87.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.49A$6.30
$2.44₾6.34
84.02%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21A$4.50
$0.87₾2.25
268.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57A$3.61
$0.65₾1.70
295.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33A$3.27
$1.40₾3.63
66.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31A$1.84
$0.74₾1.93
77.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$45.64A$64.1
$3.41₾8.86
1238.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.17A$19.89
$7.60₾19.75
86.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.19A$5.88
$1.70₾4.41
146.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14A$5.81
$2.38₾6.19
73.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.87A$4.04
$0.36₾0.94
697.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.3A$113
$15.24₾39.59
426.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60A$5.05
$1.18₾3.07
205.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67A$2.34
$0.76₾1.97
119.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.42A$58.1
$11.34₾29.46
265.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43A$2.01
$1.33₾3.46
7.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3KA$43.9K
$24.7K₾64.2K
26.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KA$42.8K
$22.0K₾57.2K
38.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229A$321
$88.9₾231
157.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.11A$38.06
$13.33₾34.62
103.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9A$81.3
$20.12₾52.3
187.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.3A$74.9
$68.7₾178
-22.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.67A$29.01
$18.09₾46.99
14.26%
Cinema Ticket
$18.19A$25.54
$6.72₾17.45
170.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,246A$3,153
$374₾970
501.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.5KA$41.4K
$10.7K₾27.8K
175.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.9A$112
$101₾263
-21.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.5A$105
$39.33₾102
89.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112A$157
$118₾305
-4.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135A$189
$122₾318
10.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,518A$2,130
$682₾1,772
122.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,094A$1,536
$456₾1,186
139.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,262A$3,175
$1,303₾3,384
73.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,837A$2,579
$899₾2,336
104.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,520A$7,748
$2,449₾6,363
125.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,860A$8,226
$1,452₾3,773
303.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Forster
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$652₾1,694
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.84
12.62
-53.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Forster: September 13, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,518 in Forster and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $93.0 in Forster vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $232 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 in Tbilisi?
Forster and Tbilisi differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($2,644 vs $1,247 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 $3,966 in Forster and $1,870 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 in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,518 in Forster versus $682 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 $2,246 in Forster versus $374 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 65% 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 $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $2,644 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 112% less than in Forster. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.