Daily Life

It's one of the great underappreciated cuisines of the world. Khinkali (large meat or mushroom dumplings filled with broth), khachapuri (cheese-stuffed bread, especially the Adjarian boat-shaped version with egg and butter), chakapuli (herb-braised lamb), mtsvadi (grilled pork skewers over vines) - all extraordinary. Pair with natural amber qvevri wine for the full experience. A full meal with wine at a good Georgian restaurant costs $8–$15.

Not by Western standards. Georgian society remains conservative, and the Orthodox Church holds significant cultural influence. Tbilisi Pride events have been met with counter-protests. The city has a small queer underground scene (Bassiani and associated clubs), but public displays of same-sex affection outside specific safe spaces attract unwanted attention. LGBTQ+ expats generally report being comfortable within the expat community bubble, but integration into Georgian society is more complex.

Georgia has excellent broadband, with fiber internet widely available in Tbilisi apartments - 100–300 Mbps for $15–$25/month. Mobile data (Geocell/Silknet, MagtiCom) is fast and very cheap: unlimited data plans from $5/month. 4G/LTE covers all cities and major roads; mountain villages may have limited connectivity. Overall internet quality consistently impresses visiting digital nomads.

Georgian cuisine is world-class: khachapuri (cheese-stuffed bread), khinkali (soup dumplings), mtsvadi (skewered grilled meat), badrijani (eggplant with walnut paste), and churchkhela (walnut-grape candy). Traditional restaurants (duqani) serve full meals for $5–$15. Tbilisi's modern restaurant scene is booming with rooftops, natural wine bars, and international cuisine. Georgian wine is extraordinary and cheap - a quality bottle: $3–$8.

Georgia has a universal healthcare (UHC) system that covers Georgian citizens. Expats are not covered by UHC and must use private healthcare or private insurance. Fortunately, private healthcare in Georgia is extremely affordable: GP visits from 15–40 GEL ($5–$15), specialist from 30–80 GEL ($11–$30). Tbilisi has excellent private hospitals - EVEX group is the largest network with modern facilities throughout Georgia.

Georgia has a universal healthcare (UHC) system for Georgian citizens - expats are not covered and must use private healthcare or insurance. Fortunately, private healthcare is extremely affordable: GP visits 15-40 GEL ($5-$15), specialist 30-80 GEL ($11-$30). EVEX and Mediclub are the leading private hospital networks in Tbilisi. Emergency number: 112. Private health insurance from 250 GEL/year is highly recommended.