Tbilisi is a great place to live for many, but it may not be the best place for everyone. This is my personal experience after spending about 13 months total in Tbilisi over the last 8 years. Let’s dig through the main things to consider!
Still great value for money, despite price rises
While the prices in Tbilisi have definitely gone up (they’ve gone up everywhere!), the pre-covid price level was extremely low. The price/quality ratio in Tbilisi used to be just ridiculously good – I’d argue it was probably the best in the world. The prices went up rapidly especially in early 2022, but have been settling back since then and are now at a good affordable level. You will be hard pressed to find a modern European capital with better quality for money than Tbilisi!
Georgia and Tbilisi are very safe
The safety situation in Tbilisi is stable, which sadly can’t be said for many western countries. I won’t go into the reasons for the decline of other countries here, but let’s just say that Georgia is free of those negative issues. Crime is taken seriously, and while Georgia is not a zero-crime country, Tbilisi is extremely safe for visitors. Georgia doesn’t have immigration related challenges when it comes to crime – “imported crime” is not a thing here.
Georgia and political safety - is it an issue?
Georgia and Tbilisi are constantly in the news in a negative light - but that's because the "news" specifically seeks out the negative stuff. When I mention Georgia, the first thing people ask "wasn't there a war going on there?" (yes, like 15 years ago).
If they're a bit more up to date, they ask "aren't there large-scale riots going on?". Yes, but they're not really "riots" or large-scale, just everyday Georgians protesting their government at the parliament building. That's very different from "mostly peaceful" BLM-style actual rioting where property was being demolished on a large, random & uncontrolled scale.
For anyone who doesn't specifically go and participate in the demonstrations, they are absolutely a zero safety issue.
But what if Russia invades?
Russia is currently bogged down in Ukraine and there is absolutely no way for them to start another war at the same time. Even if they wanted to do that, large-scale invasions take months to set up and don't go unnoticed. In this very theoretical threat scenario, you'd have plenty of time to get out in time. This is only remotely valid point of concern if you're planning to buy property in Georgia - and even then I wouldn't personally lose sleep over this threat.
Ancient, unique and proud culture
Georgians are very proud of their culture, which is mostly a good thing. They have good reasons for this pride, as Georgia has an ancient culture that has withstood a millennia of different attacks, some of which are still ongoing. I trust that Georgia will emerge victorious from these challenges, as it always has. As a non-local, you don’t need to worry about these challenges though – they are extremely unlikely to affect your life. You can just get to know this rich and ancient culture, the like of which you won’t find anywhere else!
World class food and wine
The food in Georgia is great, and in Tbilisi you have endless choices of the global menu. The local food is made from healthy and fresh ingredients, and is one of the main reasons drawing me back. Georgian wine culture goes back to times immemorial. Eating out (or ordering in) won’t break the bank either!
Great weather, especially during the autumn and spring
The weather in Tbilisi is pleasant most of the year. The peak of the summer is hot and you will definitely need good AC. Autumn lasts relatively warm late into the year and spring starts early. The winters (mostly December-February) are chilly but not extremely cold: usually the daytime temperatures hover slightly above 0c (32f). Snow is possible but rare. Personally, I find it best during the shoulder seasons, but there are no bad times of the year in Tbilisi!
World class banking services with EUR and USD accounts
The banking services in Georgia are world class. Opening a bank account in Tbilisi is a breeze. It used to be one-and-done with basically no questions asked, but with the recent crackdown on Russian money, there are some questions asked… but for non-Russian passport holders, the process is still extremely smooth and quick. Same goes with the day-to-day banking: the banks are extremely easy to work with. You can get the account opened on the first day of your visit, and getting a debit card takes only a few days.
Possible negatives when considering moving to Tbilisi
Language barrier
This used to be somewhat of an issue, but now with the existence of Sovereign Landing, the biggest obstacle of finding a place to stay is taken care of for you – no language worries there! Apart from that, you’ll find that when interacting with the locals, definitely not everyone speaks English. Many do, but don’t expect it. Nina will help you out with translation needs!
Time zone (could also be “pro”, depending on what you do)
When I first visited in 2017, it was the time zone that made me leave. I was starting a US-based business at the time, and it was just taking off. That meant that I had to start handling customer calls, which meant working in late evenings and nights – no bueno. If you don’t need to work US business hours, Tbilisi is a few hours ahead of Europe, which is a great time zone to be in.
Water infrastructure maintenance debt
While the water itself is good quality and drinkable (especially with a basic water filter!), the underground pipes are Soviet inheritance and let’s just say that there is heavy maintenance debt… one that is being worked on. This “being worked on” means that you are likely to experience some water outages, often unannounced. This is mostly an annoyance, not something that should prevent you from moving. The frequency of the outages depends on the area where you live, so it’s difficult to estimate how often these will happen (expect perhaps once a month). They usually last a few hours.
Electricity supply is much more steady, and internet connections are fast and stable.
Air quality
Tbilisi air quality isn’t the worst, but it’s definitely not the best either – it depends a lot on the day and weather conditions. Especially during the winter and if there’s no wind, the smog starts to gather up. This is mostly a problem if you’re working outside, which I expect you-the-reader probably not to be doing – inside you can just use a very affordable air filter and still enjoy great air quality indoors!
Conclusion
While Tbilisi is a bit of a diamond in the rough, it is a great place to live when considered as a whole. The negatives in the news are mostly blown out of proportion – Tbilisi is a safe place with great quality where you can enjoy affordable good life, or live like a king if you so wish! 👑
If you’re looking to move to Tbilisi, let us help! You can sign up for a free call to let us figure out how to serve you best!
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