✓ Reviewed August 2026
Georgia living guide · 2026

Georgia, a full year to decide.

One year visa-free, some of the lowest costs on the continent and a 1% tax that freelancers can't stop talking about.

€900monthly budget
1%small-biz tax
365visa-free days
Photo: Jacques Dupakiers · CC BY 2.0
On this page OverviewCostsVisas Pros & consWhere to liveDaily lifeYour move

Home › Destinations › Georgia

THE SHORT VERSION

Is Georgia a good fit for you?

Georgia is the easiest 'just try it' move on this list: many nationalities get a full visa-free year on arrival, costs are low and registered freelancers pay 1% turnover tax. The catch is thinner public healthcare and a region with real geopolitical tension.

Best routeVisa-freeUp to 1 year on arrival
LanguageGeorgianOwn script; Russian widely spoken
CurrencyLari ₾Cheap day-to-day spending
Best seasonMay–JunGreen, mild, pre-summer
01 · MONEY

What life actually costs

A realistic solo budget, not a backpacker fantasy. Switch lifestyle to see what changes.

€900

Housing takes roughly % of the budget — the number that moves most between cities.

Among the cheapest options that still offer a modern capital city.

02 · RESIDENCY

Realistic ways in

Visa names mean little without income thresholds, renewal paths and tax consequences side by side.

BEST MATCH
STAY

1-Year Visa-Free

Citizens of ~95 countries can simply live in Georgia for a full year on arrival.

  • No application needed
  • Renew with a border run
  • Open a local bank account
  • Great low-commitment trial
TAX

Small Business Status

Register as an individual entrepreneur and pay 1% turnover tax under the threshold.

  • 1% up to ~€165k/year turnover
  • Fast online registration
  • Ideal for freelancers
  • Get proper local accounting
RESIDENCE

Residence Permit

For those who want to settle beyond the visa-free year via work, study or investment.

  • Work, study or property routes
  • Property route from ~$100k
  • Renewable annually
  • Path to longer-term status
03 · THE HONEST PART

Why people stay — and leave

No destination is “perfect.” We show the trade-offs before any affiliate button.

The good

  • Up to 365 days visa-free for many nationalities
  • Very low cost of living
  • 1% tax for registered small businesses/freelancers
  • Stunning mountains and a Black Sea coast

The trade-offs

  • Lower-quality public healthcare
  • Regional geopolitical tension
  • A unique script with a steep learning curve
  • Fewer direct flights to Western Europe
04 · WHERE TO LIVE

Three different Georgias

Pick the rhythm first, then the postcode. City, coast and smaller towns solve very different problems.

BEST FOR ENERGY

Tbilisi

Creative capital, cafés and coworking

BEST FOR COAST

Batumi

Black Sea beaches and cheap towers

BEST VALUE

Kutaisi

Budget flights and rock-bottom rents

05 · DAILY LIFE

The things that shape Tuesday

Beyond the scenery: healthcare, safety, internet, taxes, schools and language.

🏥

Healthcare

Affordable private clinics in cities are good value, but public care is weak — private insurance is recommended.

🛡️

Safety

Tbilisi is surprisingly safe for a capital; occasional political protests are the main thing to watch.

💻

Internet & work

Solid urban internet and a growing digital-nomad scene, though speeds trail Western Europe.

🧾

Taxes

The 1% small-business regime is the headline draw; territorial rules make foreign income attractive.

🎓

Schools

A handful of international schools in Tbilisi; options thin out quickly outside the capital.

🗣️

Language

Georgian has its own alphabet and is hard to learn; English is limited but growing among the young.

06 · YOUR MOVE

A move you can actually follow

Four stages that turn “someday” into a checklist based on your nationality, income and family.

12–8 WEEKS

Choose your route

Check eligibility, official evidence, tax exposure and realistic processing time.

8–4 WEEKS

Build the file

Banking, accommodation, insurance, criminal record and translated documents.

ARRIVAL

Land connected

eSIM, temporary cover, transport, an address and your first local appointments.

FIRST 90 DAYS

Become local

Tax number, banking, healthcare, residency follow-up and utilities.

FREE PLANNING TOOLS

Less reading. Better decisions.

Use the numbers instead of drowning in them.

Visa finderRoutes that match your income and work Budget builderCountry + lifestyle + family size CompareTwo countries, side by side Move plannerYour timeline and document checklist Cost calculatorFirst month cash required ShortlistSave destinations without an account
07 · COMPARE

Not sure about Georgia?

Compare the variables that matter for living somewhere, not the ones that sell holidays.

How we keep this accurate: visa, tax and residency claims link to the responsible government or official programme. Cost estimates show their city, sample date and lifestyle assumptions. Figures are re-verified on the “last reviewed” date shown in the hero.