Life in Georgia

Georgia (or Sakartvelo, “land of the Kartvelians”) is a Caucasus country bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is welcoming both in the warmth of its people and in how straightforward it is to settle here as a resident and, in time, a citizen.

Tbilisi, the capital, is traditional yet cosmopolitan, with a small but close-knit community of Western and Russian-speaking expats. Beyond the city, UNESCO-listed castles and monasteries dot the countryside, and Georgia counts among the first nations in the world to adopt Christianity.

In 2015 the government (Ordinance #255) granted citizens of more than 90 countries the right to stay visa-free for a full year — a generous window to decide whether Georgia suits you before committing for the long term.

If you are interested in conducting business in Georgia, explore the relevant pages or go straight to our most popular service — registering an IE in Georgia.

Updated: May 2026

Contents

• Living in Georgia as a foreigner
• Cost of living
• Getting to & around Tbilisi
• Finding a home
• Best areas to live in Tbilisi
• SIM cards & mobile internet
• The Georgian language
• Georgian cuisine
• Shopping & imported goods
• International schools
• Banking for foreigners
• Healthcare & insurance
• Driving & licences
• Climate & seasons
• Residence & citizenship
• Paying bills

A Georgian proverb holds that “a guest is a gift from God,” which captures the local approach to visitors and expats alike. As a tourist you feel that hospitality at once; as a resident the relationship matures — fewer guided tours and dinner invitations, more everyday friendship — because you are now part of the community and expected to find your own feet. Georgians stay quick to help when it matters, and the Western and Russian-speaking expat community, though small, is close-knit and supportive.

By European standards Tbilisi is still affordable, though central rents and imported goods have climbed in recent years. Approximate monthly costs (Numbeo, 2026):

Figures are approximate and shift with the season and the lari — check Numbeo for the latest.

Tbilisi International is served by direct flights from hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Munich, Vienna and Warsaw. Most low-cost flights (Wizz Air, Pegasus) land instead at Kutaisi, about three hours west; buses also run to Tbilisi from neighbouring countries.

Within the city, the metro and buses run from 06:00 to midnight and take any contactless Visa or Mastercard — just tap (a single 90-minute ride is ₾1). Bolt is the main ride-hailing app, with Yandex Go as a backup.

Securing a good, affordable home is often the hardest part of any move, and Georgia is no exception. Rent depends on location, condition and size, with central districts costing more than the outskirts. Most landlords quote — and expect payment — in US dollars, though some accept lari. Buying property is expensive and worthwhile mainly as a permanent home or an investment.

Rustaveli Avenue is the city’s main artery, lined with theatres, museums, malls, shops and cafés. It runs from Freedom Square up to Rustaveli metro station and on toward Rose Revolution Square.

Two metro lines serve the city — one running the length of Rustaveli to the northern districts, the other out to Saburtalo. Saburtalo, especially around Technical University, is the modern and pricier end, with boutiques and smart restaurants.

You can live centrally for a reasonable price if you are flexible on size or willing to share; living far out rarely saves much once late-night taxis are counted, as the metro and buses stop around midnight. Marjanishvili is a calm, residential central pocket on the metro, while Vake — beyond the end of Rustaveli — is leafy and quiet but has no metro station of its own.

Near stations such as Freedom Square, Rustaveli or Marjanishvili the city feels genuinely walkable, and an inexpensive second-hand e-scooter (no licence required) covers the rest.

Georgia has three mobile operators — Magti, Silknet and Cellfie (formerly Beeline). A tourist SIM with generous data is inexpensive and sold at the airport, operator shops and many kiosks; you will need your passport to register it. 4G is everywhere and 5G covers much of Tbilisi.

Do not assume everyone speaks English or Russian. Georgian has its own alphabet and is unrelated to any major language; its guttural sounds look daunting at first but are learnable, and a few phrases go a long way. A starter set:

• Gamarjoba — Hello
• Kho — Yes
• Ara — No
• Kargi — OK
• Madloba — Thank you
• Arapris — You’re welcome
• Gaumarjos — Cheers!
• “Me var …” — “I am …”
• “Laparakob inglisurad?” — “Do you speak English?”
• “Sad aris …?” — “Where is …?”
• One to ten: erti, ori, sami, otkhi, khuti, ekvsi, shvidi, rva, tskhra, ati.

Ask ten visitors what they loved most about Georgia and the food — and the culture around the table — will top the list. The main dishes to try:

• Khinkali — soup dumplings
• Khachapuri — cheese bread in several styles; the Adjarian version is a boat of bread filled with salty cheese and a raw egg
• Badrijani nigvzit — fried aubergine with walnut paste
• Lobio — spiced bean stew
• Lobiani — bread filled with bean paste
• Kababi — grilled minced pork and beef
• Mtsvadi — Georgian barbecue
• Satsivi — chicken in walnut sauce
• Chakapuli — lamb or beef stewed with tarragon and sour plums

Beyond the dishes, it is the ritual around the table that captivates visitors most: long, joyful feasts full of laughter, polyphonic singing and toasts for everything and everyone, led by a tamada (toastmaster). Glasses never stay empty — Saperavi is the classic red, while amber qvevri wine is the most distinctive.

Local shops and bazaars overflow with fresh produce, but Georgia relies heavily on imports, so specialty items — coconut and almond milk, organic goods, Asian pastes, Italian pesto — and even budget clothing brands can cost more than you expect. International couriers ship readily from the US, Germany, China and the UK, usually within about a week.

Families have a growing choice of international schools in Tbilisi, including the British International School of Tbilisi (BIST), QSI International School of Tbilisi, the European School, the Deutsche Internationale Schule Tbilissi (German curriculum), the New School, Newton Free School (an IB World School), and the École Française du Caucase (French curriculum). Between them they offer British, American, IB and national programmes. Places fill early, so apply well ahead of the school year.

The main retail banks are Bank of Georgia, TBC and Liberty Bank. Opening a personal account as a foreigner can be complex, and how complex depends largely on your country of citizenship: banks apply strict KYC checks and approval is never guaranteed. Applicants are often asked for proof of local ties, a Georgian address or source of funds, and some are declined — it helps to apply in person with thorough documentation. Once open, cards are accepted almost everywhere and the mobile-banking apps are excellent. See our guide to opening a bank account in Georgia.

Private healthcare in Georgia is modern and far cheaper than in Western Europe, but you generally pay out of pocket or through private insurance. The state Universal Healthcare Programme mainly covers Georgian citizens (plus stateless persons and people with refugee, humanitarian or asylum status); a foreigner on a residence permit is generally not eligible, so private health insurance is essential. Established insurers include TBC Insurance, Aldagi, GPI Holding, Irao and Imedi L, and well-regarded private clinics include MediClubGeorgia and the Caucasus Medical Centre (CMC).

You may drive in Georgia on a valid foreign licence together with an International Driving Permit, generally for up to a year. A valid foreign licence can often be exchanged for a Georgian one without a road test, but the exchange requires an official confirmation from the issuing authority abroad (legalised or apostilled, then translated and notarised in Georgia, and no more than 90 days old), alongside your passport or residence permit, submitted to the MIA Service Agency. Without that you sit theory and practical exams; since 2025, taking the exam requires a residence permit or at least roughly 185 days of legal stay.

Tbilisi has a moderate continental climate: hot, dry summers (often 30–35 °C in July and August), mild and pleasant springs and autumns — the best times to visit — and cool, damp winters that rarely stay below freezing for long. Western Georgia and the Black Sea coast (Batumi) are humid and subtropical, while the high mountains hold snow into spring, with a ski season running roughly December to April.

Georgia’s immigration rules are relatively simple. Most nationalities can stay visa-free for a year (see above); to remain longer you apply for a residence permit.

Residence permits are issued by the Public Service Development Agency (sda.gov.ge) and can be filed at a Public Service Hall or online via my.gov.ge. Common grounds include work, study, business ownership, investment, property and family reunification. A decision normally takes about 30 days, with a faster track available; supporting documents must be in Georgian, though an English-language application can be accepted.

After ten years of continuous residence on a temporary permit you may apply for permanent residency (time spent purely for study, medical treatment or diplomatic service does not count). Citizenship by naturalisation requires a longer period of lawful residence plus exams in Georgian language, history and the basics of law; Georgia generally permits dual citizenship only by exception. We are glad to advise on the route that fits your situation.

Paying utilities is refreshingly painless: self-service pay-boxes are everywhere — choose the service, insert cash or tap a card, and you are done, with no queue at a bank or post office. Many of the same machines even sell intercity train tickets.