Georgia is a gorgeous country in the Caucasus region which attracts foreigners. It is surprising that Georgia has such natural treasures as the warm sea, majestic mountains, ancient churches, waterfalls, and rivers simultaneously. However, expats immigrate to Georgia because of its welcoming people and extremely delicious food.
The major reason for people moving to Georgia from the USA, Canada, Asian and European countries is retirement because this country does not have a stable economy, while the cost of living is relatively low. On the contrary, many Georgians are leaving the country to find better opportunities abroad. Nevertheless, moving to Georgia even for a short term can be an unforgettable experience. That is why we have prepared this article for those who are thinking of relocation and international removals to Georgia.
Whether you are relocating from the USA to Georgia or moving from overseas, you definitely need to learn more about this country and prepare all the necessary documents which will grant your legal stay there. Most likely you are also encouraged to move your personal belongings to Georgia safely. For that reason, we have prepared a table with basic facts about this country and information about international removals to Georgia.
| Location | Georgia is located in the Caucasus region at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. |
| Capital city | Tbilisi |
| Climate | The climate of Georgia is influenced by the subtropical air masses. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range protects the country from cold air masses moving from northern regions. |
| Currency | Georgian Lari (GEL) |
| Population | There are about 3 million people living in Georgia. The largest ethnic minorities are Armenians (4%) and Azerbaijani (6%). |
| Language | Georgian is the official language in Georgia. Given that Georgia is the former Soviet Republic, many people, especially older generations, speak Russia. Meanwhile, Armenians and Azerbaijani people speak their native languages as well. |
| Timezone | UTC +4 |
| Surprising fact | Georgia started producing wine about 8,000 years ago. |
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Before people immigrate to Georgia, they decide upon which city or region of the country they would prefer to live in. In Georgia, there is a sharp contrast between the rural and urban landscapes, but it is still possible to find unique places wherever you go. Living in Georgia depends on the city or village you chose to reside in, but the tendencies are pretty the same across the country. We have prepared a list of advantages and disadvantages for you to summarize the impressions of expats so that those who are moving to Georgia are better aware of this land and its people.
Advantages
Disadvantages
The cost of living in Georgia is not very high, especially when the tourist season is over. You can enjoy low prices for food and wine produced locally, while travelling across the country won’t be that expensive as well. As an expat, you will probably have other side expenses as apartment rental, visa fees, and others. The average prices in Georgia for various products and services are listed in the table below.
| Apartment rental | $200-450 (1-bedroom apartment) |
| Utility bills | $60-100 |
| Internet | $15 |
| Food | $100-200 |
| A meal of the day | $5 |
| A cup of cappuccino | $2 |
Georgia once had very loyal immigration policies and visa requirements, however, it has recently implemented strict regulations for visitors and expats. There are 5 main visa types for Georgia ranging from transit to diplomatic purposes. Foreigners moving to Georgia need to apply for the corresponding visa type, the one that suits their purpose of visit best.
Georgia had a healthcare system based on the Soviet model, but the country has recently made a transition owing to the radical reform in the healthcare sector. Previously, all citizens of Georgia were covered by the state-funded healthcare insurance policy, while now the funding system is enhanced for people with lower socioeconomic status and almost absent for the wealthy ones. Currently, there are 4 types of state healthcare insurance program depending on one’s level of annual income (high, average, low, and socially disadvantaged).
The first group is not covered by the state at all, which means that Georgian citizens and residents will have to reimburse the medical treatment costs by themselves. The only exception concerns the expenses associated with delivery for women that are partially subsidized by the state. People of two other groups, average and low-income categories, receive a partial coverage of major healthcare services. Meanwhile, the members of socially disadvantaged citizens are fully compensated for almost any kind of medical services such as surgeries, primary care, emergency care, etc.
Obviously, a State healthcare program was introduced to help people living below the poverty line to obtain better access to medical services. However, healthcare institutions in urban areas grant a better quality of medical services than in rural ones. The out-of-pocket payments remain the primary source of the healthcare system funding in Georgia.
Expats moving to Georgia opt to choose a private healthcare insurance policy because it covers almost any kind of healthcare services and grants access to private healthcare institutions as well. This is reasonable as the quality of care in private clinics is way better than that in public hospitals.
Georgia has a typical for Europe educational system where children are supposed to attend school from the age of 6 for about 12 years. Afterwards, students decide whether they would like to enrol in one of the Georgian universities or start working in a chosen field right away.
Those who immigrate to Georgia with their children from neighbouring countries should consider that some public schools offer education in Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Russian languages. If you come from overseas territories, there are also international schools available. Most of those are located in Tbilisi and Batumi, while the cost of education is relatively high there.
The higher education institutions in the country have already adopted a Bologna system. Professors and teachers in Georgia are highly-qualified, while students have a possibility to participate in the international exchange programs and study for a semester in other universities, particularly in European countries.
The unemployment rate is currently high in Georgia, but the overall economic situation in the country is getting better. There are more workplaces offered by local and international companies, but the salary rates are still not competitive compared to those in other European countries. The average salary rates were recently updated in almost every sector of the Georgian economy, so professionals in various industries have a higher income.
| Banking and finance workers | $550 |
| State sector workers | $350 |
| Industry workers | $300 |
| Construction and building workers | $300 |
| Medical workers | $200 |
| Teachers | $150 |
| Agriculture workers | $130 |
Even though the wages in agriculture sectors are the lowest, the professionals in this field are in high demand in Georgia. That is why the salaries in this industry tend to increase gradually, while more and more expats with the required qualifications immigrate to Georgia to work in the agriculture sector.
Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi are the three largest cities in Georgia which attract many tourists, foreigners, and expats. The cost of living in those cities is obviously different, so the prices for the apartment rental and real estate property also vary. Check the table with the average prices for the apartment rental and the cost of 1 square meter in each of these cities.
| 1-bedroom apartment | 2-bedroom apartment | 1 sq. m. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi | $250-450 | $350-700 | $500-1000 |
| Kutaisi | $100-150 | $150-300 | $200-500 |
| Batumi | $150-200 | $300-750 | $350-1200 |
Things to consider before driving in Georgia:
Relocation to Georgia means that you take a serious step in your life as you change the place of residence and need to get accustomed to the new environment. Moreover, you have to think of a convenient way and the cost of moving house to Georgia. Those who are moving from overseas are probably interested in how much is shipping from the USA to Georgia or what is the cheapest way to move furniture to Georgia. Here comes Eurosender offering lower than the average moving costs to Georgia along with fast booking process on our easy-to-use online platform.
International removals to Georgia with Eurosender offer the best experience for you as:
If you want to get more details and get to know the average moving costs to Georgia, contact our logistics experts who have helped hundreds of our clients with the relocation process.
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