Living in Tbilisi Georgia - A Complete Neighborhood Guide

Living in Tbilisi Georgia - A Complete Neighborhood Guide In this document, an honest overview of the neighborhoods and areas for living in Tbilisi Georgia (city of sun and roses, as the popular Soviet song says).

If you are moving to Tbilisi as an expat, you’ll learn about the areas many expats choose to live in and the pros and cons of each district for expat life.

*You can get a more detailed Tbilisi neighborhoods guide on our website.

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Living in Tbilisi, Georgia Tbilisi is a city of around 1 million people. There are many districts where expats choose to live but some are more popular than others.

Of course, popularity is not an objective measure. We’ll also asses based on value for money, quality of life and expat preferences in general.

The cost of living in Tbilisi is relatively low. Life is generally easy, though some elements of everyday life are far more disorganized than you may be used to if coming from the USA / EU etc. Especially when it comes to estate agents. The expat community is inclusive and welcoming overall and is very diverse.

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Tbilisi Map of Downtown Neighborhoods

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Vake: The most prestigious area in Tbilisi

Vake Summary: Prestigious leafy suburb with a lot of expats.

Vake is the most prestigious area for living in Tbilisi, in the opinion of most locals and expats. It is relatively close to the city centre, has developed infrastructure and lots of options for both international and traditional Georgian dining.

Most of central Vake is flat, with large avenues and green parks, while the upper part (Zemo Vake/Bagebi) is located uphill on the west side of the suburb, with narrow streets and villas/cottages.

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Vake has two big parks. At the end of Vake, there’s the large Vake Park, where families and couples like to wander, during the day or evening. The second park, named Mziuri is located halfway between Vake Park and Rustaveli and is nice to get some fresh air. The neighborhood is full of restaurants and cafes so you can spend a pleasant time with your friends.

The big downside of Vake is it has no metro line and is always full of vehicles. Traffic in Vake is so bad that it’s better to use public transport than own cars.

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Saburtalo: Modern, more affordable, but still central.

Saburtalo Summary: Modern urban suburb with great value for money and easy shopping.

The second most popular neighborhood for long-term expat living in Tbilisi, Saburtalo is located in the northwest part of the city.

Expats love it here because Saburtalo has lots of mod-cons at very reasonable prices: newly built apartments as well as villas in quiet upper

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streets, and even old-style Soviet buildings with fully renovated apartments inside.

You’ll find busy avenues packed with shops and restaurants as well as malls, business centers, and a well-connected metro (though many expats use taxis primarily, given how affordable they are). There are many universities, among them State Medical Universities where many foreign students study. You’ll find a decent selection of international food, though a little more local-focused than expat, compared to Vake or the old town.

The average price for renting a 2 bedroom apartment in Saburtalo is around $350-$600.

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Old Town & Narikala Fortress

Old Town / Liberty Square / Sololaki Summary: Historical location with bustling tourist attractions and restaurants.

The most historical area for living in Tbilisi, with charming European architecture, stunning examples of Art Nouveau, wooden Georgian balconies and great views to the river and city lights. During the summer season, the Old Town will be bustling with tourists and activity.

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Restaurants spill out towards the streets, festivals may be held and a general good feeling of fun is in the air.

Just on the fringe of the Old Town, Liberty Square connects to the Rustaveli area, and behind this, creeping up the hill, you’ll find Sololaki, where old facades hide little bars, restaurants and artisan shops.

If you want an upbeat district which focuses more on tourists than long term expat life, the low-rise charm of the Old Town area is ideal.

The average price for renting a 2 bedroom apartment in Old Town/Liberty Square is around $500-$700.

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Rustaveli Avenue

Mtatsminda / Vera / Rustaveli Summary: Hilly, old central neighborhood with a lot of character.

Quiet central areas with mostly old buildings. In between Vake and Old Town, so very convenient for access to all the most popular nightlife and restaurants.

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Most of the upper streets of Mtatsminda and Vera have breathtaking views of the city but are not as easily accessible by cars and public transport. Rustaveli, named after one of Georgia’s most famous Poets, is the main avenue of Tbilisi, which is ideal for transport infrastructure. The area is within walking distance from Galleria mall and Liberty Square.

The average price for renting a 2 bedroom apartment in Mtatsminda, Vera, Rustaveli is around $450-$650.

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The newly pedestrianized section of Aghmashenebeli Avenue

Marjanishvili / Chugureti Summary: Up and coming old neighborhood that has seen a lot of recent renovations.

Located on the east bank of the Kura river, opposite to the Rustaveli Avenue area, Marjanishvili is another place to look for Art Nouveau architecture. It has great transport connections to the whole city, is walking distance from Liberty square (around 30 mins, depending on ExpatHub, LLC Company Number: 405403264 9 Dariali Turn, Tbilisi, Georgia

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where in Marjanishvili you reside) and is known for the hipster hub, Fabrika.

Fabrika, formerly a Soviet sewing factory, is now a large hostel/coworking space/outdoor yard with several bars and eateries. The building is covered with graffiti and street art, which represents its rebel soul. You’ll find a busy, buzzing atmosphere most evenings, especially weekends.

Another part of Marjanishvili area, Aghmashenebeli Ave is known as an unofficial Turkish quarter with many Turkish and Arabic restaurants and shops. While some of them are typical tourist traps, many are very well priced and have a perfect Istanbul vibe – hookah and all.

The average price for renting a 2 bedroom apartment in Marjanishvili is around $350-$600.

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Get Our Full Living in Tbilisi Expat Guide The above Tbilisi Cost Of Living guide is an excerpt from our new, free e-book which covers the essentials of living in, or relocating to, Georgia. Our 100 page guide includes: ● Accommodation ● Visas & residency ● Business, banking & tax ● Everyday life: from social life to transport, internet, restaurants and much more.

You can download our 100 page, Georgia expat guide book from here.

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