Living in Georgia · Tbilisi
Practical guide to everyday life in Tbilisi
Official reference points for household costs, utilities, transport, work, taxes, documents and everyday life.
2,015 GEL / monthHousehold · 2025
1 GEL / 90 minTbilisi transport
1%Small business
Updated September 2026
01 · Cost of living
Geostat reports average monthly expenditure of 2,015 GEL per urban household in 2025. The nationwide household average was 1,936.3 GEL and expenditure per capita was 602.9 GEL. Food, beverages and tobacco represented 38.7% of household cash consumption expenditure.
- Use these figures as an official statistical baseline, not as a personal budget.
- Housing is usually the largest variable: district, apartment condition and lease terms can change the monthly total substantially.
- For current food and consumer-product prices, use Geostat’s official Price Statistics Portal, which is updated regularly.
02 · Utilities and monthly bills
Current regulated household reference tariffs in Tbilisi give a useful baseline for recurring bills.
- Electricity (TELMICO, VAT included, Jul–Dec 2026): 20.041 tetri/kWh for 0–101 kWh, 24.053 tetri/kWh for 101–301 kWh, and 28.537 tetri/kWh above 301 kWh.
- Natural gas (Tbilisi Energy, VAT included, 2026–2027): 53.971 tetri/m³.
- Metered water (Georgian Water and Power, VAT included, 2024–2026): 0.500 GEL/m³.
- Internet, mobile and building-management charges are commercial services; compare the current provider tariff before signing up.
03 · Transport
Tbilisi’s integrated municipal transport covers metro, buses, minibuses and the Bagebi–University ropeway.
- 1 GEL — 90 minutes of unlimited integrated travel when paid with an eligible transport/bank card.
- 3 GEL — 1-day pass; 20 GEL — 1-week pass; 40 GEL — 1-month pass.
- Airport bus 337 connects Tbilisi Airport with the city and uses the same 1 GEL / 90-minute tariff.
04 · Work and taxes
Georgia has separate rules for employment income and qualifying entrepreneurial activity. Tax treatment depends on the source and type of income.
- Salary income is generally taxed at 20%.
- An eligible entrepreneur natural person with Small Business status is generally taxed at 1% on qualifying Georgian-source business income.
- The Small Business rate becomes 3% from the month the annual gross economic-activity income exceeds 500,000 GEL, through the end of that calendar year. Special thresholds apply to certain wine-tourism and agritourism activities.
- Not every activity or income type qualifies for the Small Business regime. Check Revenue Service rules before registering or invoicing.
05 · Documents and relocation
Residence-permit and related migration services are handled through the Public Service Development Agency, Public Service Hall branches and eligible online services.
- Residence-permit categories include work, study, family reunification, investment and short-term residence, among others.
- Many residence-permit services currently offer 30-day / 20-day / 10-day processing options at 300 / 450 / 600 GEL, depending on the permit type.
- Requirements depend on your citizenship, lawful-stay status and permit category. Check the current SDA requirements before applying.
06 · Housing and neighborhoods
Your housing choice has the biggest effect on a Tbilisi budget. Central districts usually trade convenience for a higher housing cost, while outer districts can offer more space and lower entry prices.
- Use live Flats.ge listings rather than a fixed rent average when comparing neighborhoods.
- Check heating type, building condition, lift, parking, utility meters and management fees before committing.
- For longer stays, compare commute time as carefully as rent: metro access can materially change everyday convenience.
07 · Banking, mobile and internet
Banking and telecom services are widely available, but account-opening requirements and commercial tariffs can change.
- Compare account fees, international transfer costs and card-currency conversion before choosing a bank.
- For mobile service, compare eSIM availability, data packages and roaming rather than relying on an old static price.
- For home internet, confirm the exact building address with the provider because available speeds can differ by building.
08 · Healthcare and emergencies
Tbilisi has public and private hospitals, clinics, laboratories and a dense pharmacy network.
- Emergency number: 112.
- For non-emergency care, compare clinic location, language support, insurance acceptance and appointment availability.
- If you use private insurance, confirm direct billing before treatment.
09 · Leisure and weekly activities
Tbilisi has a strong year-round mix of food, culture, nightlife and outdoor activities. Event schedules change every week, so treat this as a planning checklist rather than a fixed calendar.
- Weekdays: cafés and coworking, gyms, museums, cinema, theatre and neighbourhood restaurants.
- Friday and Saturday: live music, wine bars, restaurants, clubs and late-night venues.
- During the day on weekends: markets, parks, sulphur baths, museums and family activities.
- Easy day trips: Mtskheta and Kakheti; mountain trips such as Kazbegi and Gudauri depend on season and road conditions.
10 · Seasons, driving and pets
Daily life changes noticeably by season, especially heating, air quality, mountain travel and traffic.
- Expect hot summers and colder winters in Tbilisi; winter utility use can be materially higher because of heating.
- If you drive, check current licence, parking and vehicle-registration rules for your status before relying on a foreign document.
- For pets, confirm building rules, landlord permission and current veterinary/travel-document requirements before moving.