OWT
One Way Ticket Team
Georgia became one of the most popular relocation destinations after 2022. Hundreds of thousands of Russians moved here — and life in Tbilisi has changed profoundly. Here is the honest picture of what living in Georgia looks like in 2025.
The upsides of life in Georgia
- •Visa-free entry for Russians for 360 days
- •Minimal tax on foreign-source income — potentially 1%
- •A bank account opened in 1–3 days (harder than before, but doable)
- •High-speed internet and well-developed infrastructure
- •A relatively low cost of living (though prices have risen)
- •A warm climate and beautiful scenery
- •Georgian cuisine and its famous hospitality
The downsides — and the reality
- •Housing prices in Tbilisi are up 40–80% since 2022
- •Banks have tightened compliance — opening an account as a Russian is harder
- •TBC and Bank of Georgia can refuse without explanation
- •Attitudes toward Russians are mixed — it depends on the person and the neighborhood
- •No direct path to citizenship (only after 5 years of permanent residency)
- •Transport infrastructure lags behind Europe's
- •Healthcare falls short of European standards
💡 Current for 2025: Georgia is no longer a "transit" country. Many people are staying for the long haul. If your goal is long-term residence, plan your tax residency in advance and look into the investor residence permit program.
Cost of living in Tbilisi in 2025
- •Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the center: $600–1,200/month
- •A 2-bedroom in a good district: $900–1,800/month
- •Food for one person: $300–500/month
- •Utilities: $80–150/month
- •Internet: $20/month
- •Total per person: $1,200–2,500/month, depending on lifestyle
“Georgia is not a final destination — it's a good base. It works well for the first year or two, while you sort out your paperwork in a more stable jurisdiction.”