Essentials
- City
- Batumi, Adjara, Georgia
- Population
- 175,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 40-100 Mbps (Magti/Silknet Fiber)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 GEL ≈ 0.37 USD, 1 USD ≈ 2.70 GEL
- Tap Water
- Safe in most central areas, but bottled/filtered water like Borjomi or Bakuriani is preferred
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Magti (Best coverage), Silknet, or Beeline (Cellfie). 15 GEL ($5.50) for 5GB
- Banking for Expats
- Bank of Georgia (BOG), TBC Bank. Easy setup with passport.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Myhome.ge, and local Facebook groups (Expats in Batumi)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted in supermarkets, malls, and restaurants; cash needed for small markets (pazari)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Orbi City Towers (approx. $30-$60/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- TJ Hostel (Mazniashvili Street, $10/night), Back2Me ($12/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Batumi (Gamsakhurdia/Mazniashvili St) for charm and architecture
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- New Boulevard or Pirosmani Street for modern apartments and gyms
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Terminal (Gogebashvili St, $15/day) or Loka Coworking ($10/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Rhizome Coffee Roaster (Parnavaz Mepe St) or Coffeetopia (Gamsakhurdia St)
- Networking Events
- Weekly Digital Nomad Meetups at 'The Gate' or via 'Digital Nomads Georgia' FB group
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday Night Mixer at 'Home' bar or board game nights at 'Tsibakha Game Club'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Standard ride $1-3), Yandex Go
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Batumvelo (Orange bikes across the promenade, $1.50/hour via card)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Gonio or Kvariati (15 mins south) for clearer water than the main city beach
- Top Regional Airline
- Georgian Airways
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines, Pegasus (Direct flights to Istanbul)
- Highway Access
- S2/E70 Highway connects to Poti and the Turkish border (Sarpi)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Batumi Central Railway Station (Makhinjauri) for high-speed trains to Tbilisi
- Public Transport Passes
- Batumi Card (Rechargeable card for MetroBuses, 0.30 GEL per ride)
- Regional Travel
- Marshrutka (Minibus) from Tbilisi Square to Kutaisi ($5) or Tbilisi ($12)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Bau International Hospital (Khimshiashvili St) - caters well to foreigners
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Batumi (Rustaveli St), Zen Garden ($10/class)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Aspria Fitness (Lech and Maria Kaczynski St, $40/month), Reformer Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Snow White (Takaishvili St) or self-service at many short-term rentals
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt, Glovo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Adjaruli Khachapuri (Cheese boat) at Retro ($5-7)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Privet iz Batuma (Old Batumi), Gardens ($8-12 per dish)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Dona Bakeshop (Parnavaz Mepe St) - Famous for cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Boni Bazaar (Fresh produce), Goodwill Supermarket (City Mall)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Vendoo.ge, Mymarket.ge
- Grocery Delivery
- Wolt Market, Jmart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Era Square and the Batumi Boulevard beach bars (e.g., Sector 26)
- Local Brewery
- Batumi Brewery (Khimshiashvili St) or Megobrebi (Craft beer)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Room Batumi (Kutaisi St), BQ Wine Bar (Gamsakhurdia St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Batumi Fish Market (Pick fish and they fry it nearby, $10-15 total)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Munich (German), Uncle Feng's (Chinese/Noodle bar)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ali and Nino Moving Statue, Alphabetic Tower
- Museums & Art Venues
- Adjara State Art Museum (Gorgiladze St, $2 admission)
- Historical Sites
- Gonio-Apsaros Fortress (Ancient Roman fortification, $2 entry)
- Religious Sites
- Batumi Cathedral of the Mother of God, Orta Jame Mosque
- Annual Events
- Black Sea Jazz Festival (July), Batumi International Art-house Film Festival (September)
- Cultural Districts
- Piazza Square (Italian-style central plaza)
- Theater Venues
- Batumi Drama Theatre (Rustaveli St)
- Local Markets
- Central Market (Pazari) on Mayakovsky St
- Music Scene
- Conte Bar (Live DJs/Jazz), Backstage Batumi
- Street Art
- Murals on the Old Batumi side streets and the 'Selfie' wall near the Boulevard
- Cooking Classes
- Adjarian Wine House (Khelvachauri, 20 mins from city)
- Art Galleries
- Contemporary Art Space Batumi (Z. Gamsakhurdia St)
- Historic Buildings
- Apollo Cinema, Batumi Maritime Station
- Local Heritage
- Traditional Adjarian dance performances at local restaurants like Sanapiro
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mtirala National Park (Rainforest hiking, 45 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Batumi Botanical Garden (Green Cape, $8 entry/full day)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 7km Seafront Boulevard (dedicated bike lanes)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Argo Cable Car (Anuria Mountain, $11 round-trip)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Chorokhi Delta (One of the top migratory hubs in Europe)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Pebble beaches north of the city terminal toward Makhinjauri
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Georgian Post, USA2Georgia (for shipping from USA/Europe)
- Tech Repair Services
- iPhone Service Batumi (Gorgiladze St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- 6 May Park (Outdoor tables)
- Language Classes
- Batumi Language School (Gorgasali St)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Akaki Tsereteli Public Library (Vazha-Pshavela St)
- Community Centers
- American Corner Batumi (in the Public Library)
- Gaming Lounges
- True Gamers (Gorgiladze St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino International, Eclipse Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $42,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $750 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $26,250)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,100 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $60,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $700 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $38,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $80,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $650 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $52,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (Estonian model: only taxed on distributed profits)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Territorial (1% tax for Individual Entrepreneurs with small business status up to 500k GEL turnover)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (Flat rate)
- VAT
- 18%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No strict CFC rules
- Property Tax
- 0% to 1% based on household income
- Property Transaction Tax
- 0% (Registration fees approx. $20-$100)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 'Small Business Status' allows for 1% tax on gross revenue for freelancers