Affordable Georgia: Your guide to Tbilisi on a budget

In a recent episode of Live Like a King, Nomad Capitalist Andrew Henderson asks what Tbilisi has to offer for luxury. Well, the answer’s in: Plenty. From premium Davidoff of Geneva and 8000 Vintages to Michelin-pretender Barbarestan.  

But actually, Tbilisi has a lot to offer the rest of us too. Check it out below.

Renting an apartment in Tbilisi

Whether here for a long time or short, you’ll need somewhere to stay. Besides the 5-star hotels, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton, there are apartments to rent.
Classic short-term rental services like Airbnb and Booking.com are self-explanatory, though you might be able to find something cheaper here:

• Local websites ss.ge and myhome.ge. The former has a map to refine your search, and both have flexible filters and can display prices in USD and Georgian lari
• Facebook groups are a popular option in Georgia: example 1, example 2, example 3. There are dozens of such groups, and they’re easy to find with a simple search. Respond to existing posts, reach out before you’ve arrived in Tbilisi, or post your own call for an apartment with the dates you’re planning to be there
• Instagram has something similar: example 1, example 2
• And there are Telegram channels dedicated to rentals: example 1, example 2, and there’s a bot that collects ads

Websites and social networks are a good, easy option for short and long-term accommodations. Some of the offers are published by the apartment owners themselves, and some are posted by real estate agents. Both options are fine. Real estate agents usually collect their fees from the landlord, so you don’t need to worry about that.

Utilities, on the other hand, are the tenant’s responsibility. Electricity, water, and gas will clock in at to about $75/month in Tbilisi, depending on the size of the place and stuff like that (August 2024).

Unlimited internet

Home and mobile internet don’t come with the rent in Georgia. The big two operators in Tbilisi are Silknet and Magti. Magti is a bit more popular and is considered to provide better coverage outside the city. In Tbilisi, however, the quality is pretty much the same.

• Unlimited mobile internet costs $12/month for either provider. You can also pay by the day, week, or half month.
• A month of home internet can cost up to $37 from Silknet and $30 from Magti. Silknet has a maximum data transfer speed of 150 Mbps and Magti 100 Mbps. But there are cheaper packages.

Good food at good prices

If you know anything about Georgia already, you’re probably thinking khinkali, khachapuri, and wine. And that’s cool, those and other traditional dishes are everywhere. But should you find yourself pining for a taste of back home, or something a little more international, or an interesting take on something you thought you knew – these places will serve you well.

Fabrika, 8 Ninoshvili St.

The cafes, bars, clubs, hostel, local stores that make up Fabrika are located in a former Soviet garment factory. The space is super popular and an important meeting place for locals. It offers an eclectic selection of food from all over the world, cultural events, and, of course, nightlife – open around the clock.

Bazari Orbeliani, 3a Vekua St.

Bazari Orbeliani is an upscale food court near Republic Square with more than 30 restaurants and specialty coffee shops. Bazari Orbeliani is a whopping 10,000 m², so if you decide to visit, don’t rule out spending the whole day.

Lolita, 7 Tamar Chovelidze St.

Another trendy joint popular with locals. Lolita runs with the “Italian” courtyard so popular in Tbilisi, and the food experiments with European and Georgian cuisine. And the tie that binds: original cocktails.

Stamba, 14 Kostava St.

Stamba is the Georgian word for printing press, and the name is a nod to the old Soviet building that houses the establishment and sets the tone for a throwback, bookish kind of place. Although the cuisine is Georgian, the owners “introduce the classic to the avant-garde,” so be prepared for some surprises.

Specialty coffee

Georgians love coffee, and they love the ritual that gives them an excuse to meet up with friends. You can expect traditional coffee brewed in a jezve, or cappuccino, or flat white, or bumble, or… there are lots of options and lots of great places to get them in Tbilisi.

ERTI KAVA, Old Tbilisi and Vake

There’s one in Batumi, one in Mestia, and two in Tbilisi – near Rustaveli Street (81 Abashidze Irakli St.) and in Vake (8 Mitropan Laghidze St.). ERTI KAVA offers several roasts and a breakfast menu that threatens to steal the show.

PULP, 22 Simon Janashia St.

PULP is family-owned and complements great coffee served in handmade ceramic mugs with delicious pastry, specialty sandwiches on freshly baked bread, sweets, and organic wine – what more could you want?

BNKR, old Tbilisi and Vera

There are two locations: one walking distance from Rustaveli metro station (26 Simon Janashia St.) and the second in Vera (19 Atoneli St.). BNKR roasts its own coffee beans, and their coffee is a contender for best in the city. Also a good place to get specialty cocktails, a variety of soft drinks, and original eats (croissants-burgers, for example) Not to mention the kitties…

The best wine stores

Georgia has a claim to the title of birthplace of viticulture, with archaeologists tracing grape fermentation back 8,000 years. So, the importance of wine to the local culture is hardly a surprise. Day trips to the wineries that dot the surrounding countryside are one of the most original, exciting, and satisfying things you can do. You haven’t really tasted Georgia until you’ve drunk a cool glass out of a qvevri buried in the ground. Hey, I don’t even particularly like wine, but that experience – awesome.

8000 Vintages, stores all over Tbilisi

We mentioned at the beginning that Nomad Capitalist had included 8000 Vintages in his luxury Tbilisi list. But you know what – you can get a good bottle of wine here for much less. The sky’s the limit, but prices start from as low as GEL 15.

Wine Factory N1, 1 Vasil Petriashvili St.

Vinzavod is more than a place to have a drink. It was founded in 1896 and is the oldest winery in Tbilisi proper. Nowadays it’s a museum and meeting place with numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants where you can taste history, literally.

Trip to Kakheti and wine tasting

Obviously, the city isn’t the heart of authentic Georgian winemaking – Kakheti is. The trip will take about 1.5 hours from downtown Tbilisi, and as all roads lead to Rome, all tours end up in the Alazani Valley. You won’t be sorry they do.

The best nightclubs in Tbilisi

Move over Madrid, New York, and Berlin. Pulsating reserves of creative youth have firmly established Tbilisi on the cultural map.

Nightlife abounds, and although Mozaika, Drama, and Cafe Gallery are hip to the scene, the most vibrant spots are probably:

• Bassiani, near Dynamo stadium
• Khidi, on the banks of the Mtkvari River

The influence of both on Georgian techno cannot be overstated, and they consistently earn mention among the world’s best dancefloors (Bassiani took first place in the HostelWorld ranking a few years ago). Global stars join local DJs, and the quality of sound and performance are second to none.

Gyms and fitness centers

So far Tbilisi has skewed to the idle, but fear not if you are of a more active inclination.

Prime Fit, 71 Vazha-Pshavela Ave

Monthly pass: $75

Whatever floats your boat, chances are you’ll find it at Prime Fit. After hitting the gym, go for a swim, or lounge in the Jacuzzi, sauna, or spa with hammam and solarium. Prime Fit also does classes: yoga, pilates, step, aerobics, aqua aerobics, and there is even a dance class for children.

Oktopus, clubs all over Tbilisi

Monthly membership: $100

A trendy chain of gyms with just as much to offer as Prime Fit, with yoga, Pilates, spinning, Zumba, HIIT, and special programs for beginners. Get a free guest pass or two free personal training sessions. Find an Oktopus near you right here.

Co-working space for digital nomads

Tbilisi is a great place for remote work and freelancing. We touched on some of Tbilisi’s most popular co-working spaces already, so here we will confine ourselves to our two favorite.

D Block Workspace @Stamba

Address: 14 Merab Kostava St.

Yes, it’s the same building as the Stamba above (“Georgian word for printing press…throwback…bookish…”). D Block offers a variety of workspaces, including a podcast room with a suite of tools for recording and editing and a room for creators of visual content. There’s the classic shared open space, and separate offices and meeting rooms too.

DONO OFFICE

Address: 57 2F, Building Ⅳ, 25 Pekini Ave.

Dono was founded by a Japanese entrepreneur, with a cafe, flexible rates, and “the comforts of home in an office building” to distinguish it from the competition, according to the DONO OFFICE website.

Sative Space

Address: 49b Ilia Chavchavadze Ave.

For Vake’s more energetic workers, Sative Space recently opened a co-working space and gym with massage room, calisthenics and martial arts zones, and a café. Wellness store with eco-products: coming soon.

Useful links for expats

A recent influx of foreigners into Tbilisi has resulted in new places, communities, and social spaces for expats. If you are looking to meet new people and expand your social circle:

• Facebook: English-speaking and predominantly Russian-speaking
• Comigration is a large community of comedians in Tbilisi. Check project channels on Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram
• How-to-Georgia has a bevy of useful guides, information on what and where to buy, and places expats might need to know
• Buy tickets to almost any event in Georgia on Tkt.ge and Biletebi.ge

Financial and legal matters 

If you are considering Tbilisi for life, travel, or maybe business, we have good news: Georgia has some very attractive legislation in place for large companies, startups, and individual entrepreneurs. Just a few highlights:

• Low taxes. 1% for individual entrepreneurs
• Advanced banking and the ability to work with cryptocurrency
• Understandable bureaucracy – everything is done in a single place called the House of Justice
• It’s easy to get an immigrant visa