What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Tbilisi

Relocating to Tbilisi

About the City

With a population of approximately 1.2 million in 2014, Tbilisi is Georgia’s largest city and also the country’s capital. It is situated on the banks of the Mtkvari River, and boasts a culturally diverse population comprising over 100 ethnic groups. By far the most populous group is ethnic Georgian, although Azeris, Armenians, and Russians are also present in abundance. Less dominant ethnicities in Tbilisi include Ukrainians, Germans, Greeks, Estonians, and Kurds.

Tbilisi is a city rich in recent history, and throughout the period of Russian rule (1801-1917), it was the seat of the Imperial administration of the Caucasus. Today, Tbilisi is a hub of culture, with food and wine high on the list of priorities. Should you ever find yourself in the home of a Tbilisi native, you will encounter excellent salads and uniquely sweet local wine. Pomegranate seeds and coriander are also incredibly popular in Georgian cuisine.

The Climate in Tbilisi 

While the most extreme temperatures recorded in Tbilisi are 40°C in the summer and -24°C in the winter, the average temperatures are 24.4°C and 0.9°C respectively. The capital is shielded from the freezing winds of Russia thanks to the mountains that surround it on three sides.

In terms of precipitation, Tbilisi experiences on average around 15–25 days of snow per year, while a great deal of rain will often fall during spring and autumn due to the nearby mountains, which trap the clouds above the city. Tbilisi experiences both northwesterly and southeasterly winds.

Finding Accommodation in Tbilisi

As Georgia’s largest and busiest city, it will come as no surprise that the majority of accommodation takes the form of apartments. Monthly rental prices vary depending on whether the apartment is located in the city center or outside the center. For example, a one bedroom apartment in the city center would cost, on average, 700 GEL (310 USD) per month, while the same property outside the center would cost around 435 GEL (approx. 195 USD) per month.

Those expats moving to Tbilisi wishing to rent larger three bedroom apartments will be looking to pay around 1,440 GEL (640 USD) and 820 GEL (365 USD) for the city center and outside the center respectively. Those in the market to buy can expect to spend approximately 2,000 GEL (890 USD) per square meter should they want to live in the center and around 1,200 GEL (530 USD) if they head outside the center.