Moving to Tbilisi, Georgia in 2026

Considering relocating to Tbilisi? Expect rent from $715/month, generally safe for expats, Georgian is the main language; English is manageable in urban areas. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇬🇪 Tbilisi, Georgia

Compare
1.2M peopleLivability: 70/100 · #34 of 6780% cheaper than NYC9.5% GDP growth — economy on the rise
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
22/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
12.7/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
7.5/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
3.4/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
7.8/15 ptsEIU
English
6.4/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
8/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
8.9/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 76.7 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 70/100

🌆

It's 9:03 PM in Tbilisi

Wine is being poured from a clay qvevri.

Affordability88/100
Safety80/100
Climate90/100
Connectivity22/100
Democracy52/100
English Ease64/100
Clear Days62%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Tbilisi

Spring

18°C

51% sunny

Summer

29°C

85% sunny

Fall

19°C

62% sunny

Winter

7°C

51% sunny

Best: Summer, Fall. Avoid: Winter if you dislike extremes.

Cost of Living in TbilisiNumbeo

Beer (0.5L)

$1.84

Cappuccino

$3.29

Cheap meal

$11.03

Fast food combo

$8.00

Bus/metro ticket

$0.37

Gym/month

$50

Internet/month

$18

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 5.2 (#89 globally)· Hybrid regime

Freedom House: 55/100

Press freedom rank: #114 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is Tbilisi Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

80/100

Homicide rate: 2.3 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 74.6/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Generally safe. Exercise normal urban awareness and you'll be fine.

Residents report feeling very safe. Low everyday crime concern across the board.

Will the lights stay on?

Decent
80% electricity from renewables
Occasional outages

English in TbilisiEF EPI

Moderate

Primary language is Georgian.

English works in business and tourist areas, but you'll want to pick up some local language for daily life.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Very different — steep learning curve

Who Has Offices in Tbilisi?

EPAM SystemsDataArtDevexpertsSOFTSWISSExadelRedberry

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Tbilisi Worth Moving To?

For

  • +At $715/mo for city-centre rent, your money will last until the end of the month. Novel concept.
  • +Summers regularly hit 29°C. Your cold-weather clothes will retire.
  • +Skiing on weekends. Hiking in summer. The mountains are actually usable, not just decorative.
  • +The economy grew 9.5% recently. Jobs are appearing. Opportunities are real.

Against

  • Political institutions are imperfect. Do your own research before committing.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenEasy
US citizenEasy
RussianEasy
UkrainianEasy
10 years to permanent residency
10 years to citizenship
Work permit: Easy
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

tech outsourcingfintechtourismigaming

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Nascent
VC: Rare

Corporate tax rate: 15%

Tbilisi — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tbilisi safe?

Tbilisi has a homicide rate of 2.3 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it generally safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 25.4/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in Tbilisi?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Tbilisi city centre costs around $715/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $11.03, monthly transit pass: $15. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $1115–$1515 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in Tbilisi?

Tbilisi has Summers reach around 29°C, winters drop to around -1°C. Summers are hot, so air conditioning is recommended.

Can you get by in Tbilisi without knowing the local language?

Tbilisi has Moderate English proficiency (EF EPI data). Basic interactions are possible in English in tourist and business areas, but learning some local language helps significantly.

Is Tbilisi a good place to settle long-term?

Tbilisi is in Georgia, which scores 5.2/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. The political environment is reasonably stable, though worth monitoring for expats. Rent from $715/month.

What is the job market like in Tbilisi?

Georgia has an unemployment rate of 12.1%, indicating a difficult local job market — expats typically relocate here with remote work or existing employment. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Tbilisi?

Notable companies with offices in Tbilisi include EPAM Systems, DataArt, Devexperts, SOFTSWISS, Exadel, Redberry. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Tbilisi good for expats?

Tbilisi attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Georgia. Key facts: rent from $715/month; Remotely from Georgia (relatively easy to obtain); moderate English proficiency means expats may need some local language. The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Georgia?

Georgia offers the Remotely from Georgia program. Duration: Up to 1 year. Requirements: Passport from 95+ countries. No income tax if employed abroad. This is one of the more accessible long-term visa options in the region. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

🇬🇪 Tbilisi
MountainsHot summersCold wintersCheap rent

Expenses

$1,161 / mo

🚗 That's 65 Uber rides/mo

winter

❄️ 7°C / 🥶 -1°C

summer

🌞 29°C / 😊 18°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

44 Mbps

GE: 56 Mbps

Georgia

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$28,285

GDP Growth2024

+9.5%

Inflation Rate2024

1.1%

Unemployment2025

12.1%

Gini Index2024

33.9 

Population2024

1,171,000

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

5.289th

Regime

Hybrid regime

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

2.3

Language · EF EPI

Languages

Georgian (III)

English Proficiency

Moderate32th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://immigration-georgia.com/georgia-permanent-residence/