Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Forster

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,278 a month against $2,595 in Forster, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Forster, Australia
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Forster
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,595
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Forster

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Forster actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Tbilisi versus $2,595 in Forster.

  • Tbilisi $1,278
  • Forster $2,595

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Tbilisi versus $3,737 in Forster.

  • Tbilisi $2,017
  • Forster $3,737

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,755 in Tbilisi versus $4,879 in Forster.

  • Tbilisi $2,755
  • Forster $4,879

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 51% less than in Forster, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 5% below, Forster is 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 ₾30.06
$17.58 A$25.05
-33.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.41 ₾99.3
$92.1 A$131
-58.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.18
$10.66 A$15.19
-8.63%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ₾9.21
$3.90 A$5.56
-8.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.79
$2.82 A$4.02
-61.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.46
$2.22 A$3.17
-74.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 ₾7.05
$6.87 A$9.79
-60.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₾8.08
$5.45 A$7.76
-42.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₾5.54
$1.64 A$2.34
30.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$2.91 A$4.15
-74.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$2.38 A$3.39
-24.37%
Eggs
$2.80 ₾7.25
$5.62 A$8.01
-50.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 ₾24.39
$12.01 A$17.11
-21.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.00 ₾18.09
$9.38 A$13.37
-25.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ₾32.82
$16.88 A$24.05
-24.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$3.90 A$5.56
-58.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.77
$3.10 A$4.42
-40.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.09
$3.40 A$4.85
-42.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₾6.38
$4.22 A$6.02
-41.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$3.24 A$4.62
-76.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.74
$2.48 A$3.54
-72.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₾3.66
$2.38 A$3.39
-40.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.86
$1.21 A$1.73
-40.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$44.92 A$64.0
-92.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₾20.39
$14.05 A$20.03
-43.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$3.96 A$5.65
-57.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₾6.12
$4.07 A$5.80
-41.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾0.98
$2.83 A$4.03
-86.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₾39.54
$84.7 A$121
-81.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$3.50 A$4.98
-66.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$1.65 A$2.35
-55.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.89 ₾30.75
$40.37 A$57.5
-70.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₾3.77
$1.51 A$2.15
-3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾64.6K
$30.0K A$42.7K
-16.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₾59.0K
$27.9K A$39.8K
-18.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₾228
$252 A$360
-65.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ₾32.85
$27.69 A$39.46
-54.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79 ₾51.2
$56.6 A$80.6
-65.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 ₾166
$57.0 A$81.2
12.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.17 ₾49.57
$17.43 A$24.83
9.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 ₾17.19
$17.45 A$24.87
-61.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₾960
$2,354 A$3,354
-84.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,163 ₾23.7K
$27.9K A$39.7K
-67.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾264
$80.3 A$114
27.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 ₾103
$71.4 A$102
-44.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$113 A$162
4.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾310
$130 A$186
-8.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₾1,784
$1,391 A$1,982
-50.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,193
$1,217 A$1,734
-62.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 ₾3,522
$2,287 A$3,259
-40.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 ₾2,320
$1,794 A$2,556
-50.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₾5,888
$5,826 A$8,303
-60.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₾3,562
$4,884 A$6,959
-71.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Forster
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$710 ₾1,836
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.53
5.92
111.66%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Forster: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$461
Forster
$1.2K 164% $756
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$235
Forster
$379 61.1% $144
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Forster
$285 48.9% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Forster
$178 4.1% $7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Forster
$337 179% $216
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Forster
$92 18.4% $14
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Forster
$108 397% $86

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $690 in Tbilisi and $1,391 in Forster. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38 in Tbilisi vs $92 in Forster for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $379 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇦🇺 Forster
🕒 Local time
06:33 6:33 AM
13:33 1:33 PM
7 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
20,554
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Forster 13,690 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Forster

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Forster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Forster?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,278 in Tbilisi and $2,595 in Forster, so Tbilisi is about 51% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Forster?
You’d need roughly $1,918 in Tbilisi and $3,893 in Forster 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 Tbilisi and in Forster?
Rent for a central apartment: $690 in Tbilisi versus $1,391 in Forster. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Forster?
Childcare runs $371 in Tbilisi versus $2,354 in Forster. 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 61% 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 $1,278 in Tbilisi versus $2,595 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 Tbilisi and Forster?
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 Tbilisi or Forster safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Forster are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Forster?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Forster. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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