Essentials
- City
- Tbilisi, Tbilisi Municipality, Georgia
- Population
- 1.2 Million
- Internet Speed
- Magti & Silknet fiber; average 50-100 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 GEL ≈ 0.38 USD; 1 USD ≈ 2.65 GEL
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (mountain-sourced), but many prefer filtered or bottled
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F Euro-style sockets
- SIM Card
- Magti (Best coverage), Silknet, Cellfie; ~15 GEL ($5.60) for 10GB
- Banking for Expats
- Bank of Georgia (BOG), TBC Bank; very open to foreigners
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Local sites like MyHome.ge and SS.ge
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly friendly; cards/Apple Pay accepted in almost all shops/cafes
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com; $600-$1,200/mo for central apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Fabrika Hostel ($15-20/night bunk), Envoy Hostel ($12/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Tbilisi (Dzveli Tbilisi), Sololaki, Abanotubani
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Vake (Upscale), Saburtalo (Modern/Convenient), Vera (Hip/Central)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Tbilisi (Fabrika); ~450 GEL ($170)/mo for flex desk
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lokal Tbilisi (Vera), Coffee LAB (Saburtalo), Prospero's Books (Rustaveli)
- Networking Events
- Tbilisi Digital Nomads Facebook Group, Startup Grind Tbilisi
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Tbilisi Meetups, Language Exchange at Generator 9.8
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Primary), Yandex Go (Cheapest); Rides start at 3 GEL ($1.10)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Scroll (Electric scooters) via Bird App; widely available in Vake/Center
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tbilisi Sea (Artificial lake) for swimming; Batumi (Black Sea) 5 hours by train
- Top Regional Airline
- Georgian Airways
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa
- Highway Access
- S1 Highway (West towards Black Sea), S5 (East towards Kakheti)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tbilisi Central Railway Station (Station Square)
- Public Transport Passes
- Metromoney Card; 1 GEL per ride (Bus/Metro/Marshrutka)
- Regional Travel
- Stadler High-speed train to Batumi (~35 GEL); Marshrutkas (Minibuses) to Kazbegi/Sighnaghi
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- American Hospital Tbilisi (AHT), MediClub Georgia (Expat-friendly)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lumos Yoga Studio (Vake), Yoga Cave (Vera); ~25 GEL/class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Snap Fitness (Multi-location), Oktopus Fitness Club (Vake/Saburtalo)
- Laundry Services
- Laundry Room (Vera); ~15 GEL for 5kg wash/dry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt, Glovo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Khinkali (Meat dumplings), Adjaruli Khachapuri (Cheese bread)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Mama Terra, Kiwi Vegan Cafe, Shushabandi
- Best Dessert Spots
- Puri Guliani (Mtatsminda), Entrée (Bakery chain)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Dezerter Bazaar (Local market) for fresh produce at low prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Vendoo.ge, Extra.ge
- Grocery Delivery
- Nikora, Carefour, and Europroduct via Wolt/Glovo
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Shardeni Street (Touristic), Bassiani (Techno), Khidi (Underground)
- Local Brewery
- Black Dog Shop, Naturale Craft Beer
- Wine Bars
- 8000 Vintages (Multiple locations), Vino Underground (Sololaki)
- Street Food Stalls
- Gunda (Artisanal Khachapuri), Local Lobiani stalls
- Popular International Cuisine
- Strada (American/Fusion), Thai Curry (Asian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Narikala Fortress, Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), Bridge of Peace
- Museums & Art Venues
- Georgian National Museum (Rustaveli), MoMA Tbilisi
- Historical Sites
- Metekhi Church, Sulfur Baths in Abanotubani
- Religious Sites
- Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica
- Annual Events
- Tbilisoba (October harvest festival), Tbilisi Jazz Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Marjanishvili (Theater district), Sololaki (Historical architecture)
- Theater Venues
- Rustaveli Theatre, Gabriadze Marionette Theatre
- Local Markets
- Dry Bridge Market (Antiques/Flea market)
- Music Scene
- Movement Theatre (Jazz/Eclectic), Bassiani (World-renowned techno)
- Street Art
- Fabrika Courtyard, Underground passages near Vake Park
- Cooking Classes
- Culinarium Khasheria, Gastronome Cooking School
- Art Galleries
- Gallery 27, Art-Area Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Parliament Building, Writer’s House of Georgia
- Local Heritage
- Qvevri Wine-making (UNESCO heritage), Polyphonic Singing
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Turtle Lake (Kus Tba), Lisi Lake, Vake Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Tbilisi National Park (20 mins), Sabaduri Forest
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lisi Lake Loop, Mtatsminda Park Trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mtatsminda Funicular top station, Narikala Ridge
- Birdwatching Locations
- Jvari Pass (Seasonal migration), Lisi Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Lisi Lake (Designated picnic areas)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- USA2Georgia (For US shopping), DHL, Georgian Post
- Tech Repair Services
- iPhone Service.ge (Vake), Apple City
- Table Tennis Spots
- Fabrika Courtyard, Lisi Lake
- Language Classes
- Home School Georgia, International House Tbilisi
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Parliamentary Library of Georgia
- Community Centers
- Generator 9.8, Fabrika
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Arena (Saburtalo)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Iveria, Shangri La
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $72,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $44,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,650 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $99,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $60,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,550 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $124,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $950 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $76,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (Estonian Model: 0% if reinvested)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Territorial/Resident-based; highly attractive for remote workers
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (Flat rate)
- VAT
- 18%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No strict CFC rules currently
- Property Tax
- Max 1% of property value (often 0% for low-income individuals)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 0% (Registration fees apply, approx. $50-$200)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Individual Entrepreneur status: 1% tax on turnover up to 500k GEL ($188k)