Moving to Tbilisi, Georgia with family: the bold move most families haven’t considered yet

Last checked: October 2026 for the entry, insurance and work-permit rules. Costs, school fees and tax details were reviewed earlier in 2026 and change often, so confirm them before you rely on them.

Most families planning an international relocation are looking at the same shortlist: Portugal, Spain, France, Canada, Australia. These are excellent destinations and the guides we have written about them reflect that. But there is a parallel conversation happening among a different kind of internationally mobile family, one that is genuinely curious about places the mainstream has not yet discovered, that values low cost and high quality over familiarity and convenience, and that wants to arrive somewhere that still has a sense of frontier about it.

For that family, Georgia, and its capital Tbilisi in particular, is one of the most interesting destinations in the world right now. Not the US state. The country, nestled between the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, with a capital city that is one of the most photogenic and genuinely characterful in Europe or Asia.

This guide is for families who have heard Tbilisi mentioned in relocation conversations and want to know if it is actually viable. It is, with one big 2026 caveat about working there, which we explain below.

Important 2026 update — please read before relying on the visa details below. Two rules changed in 2026. First, since 1 January 2026, foreigners entering Georgia visa-free or on a tourist visa must hold health and accident insurance that covers their whole stay, and can be refused entry without it. Second, Georgia's rules on working as a foreigner changed on 1 March 2026. The famous 365-day visa-free entry still exists, but being visa-free no longer automatically gives you the right to work while you are there — including working remotely for a foreign employer. Under amendments to Georgia's labour-migration law, foreign nationals who work in Georgia now generally need a separate work/activity permit, and there are fines for non-compliance. The practical position for purely remote workers earning from foreign clients was still being clarified through 2026. If you intend to earn an income while living in Georgia, treat this as a point to verify carefully with a qualified Georgian immigration adviser before you move. The cost-of-living, schooling, and lifestyle sections below remain a useful picture, but always confirm current visa, work-permit, and tax rules against official sources for your own nationality and situation.

Tbilisi family snapshot

What families ask	The short answer
Where do expat families live?	Mostly Vake and Vera, the two most popular neighbourhoods. A three-bedroom apartment costs roughly EUR 800 to EUR 1,500 a month.
International schools	QSI International School of Tbilisi, the British-Georgian Academy, the European School and the American Academy, at roughly USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 a year. Places are limited, so apply early.
Healthcare	Modern private clinics, and many doctors speak English. Health insurance is compulsory for visa-free stays.
Transport and cars	Metro, buses and taxi apps are cheap. A car is useful for weekends in the mountains and on the coast.
Language	Georgian, with its own script, is hard to learn. Russian is widely spoken among older Georgians, and English works in the international community.
Cost level	Roughly EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,300 a month for a family of four, before international school fees.
Biggest 2026 question	Whether you need a work permit for the way you will earn money. Check before you move.

Why Tbilisi and Georgia are having their moment

Georgia has been quietly accumulating the conditions that make a country genuinely attractive to internationally mobile families for about a decade. The visa policy is extraordinary. The cost of living is dramatically lower than Western Europe. The bureaucracy is minimal by any global standard. The tax system is genuinely simple and genuinely low. The food culture is world-class. And the country has invested seriously in infrastructure, connectivity, and the kind of urban environment that makes daily life pleasant rather than merely interesting.

What changed recently is that the word got out. The wave of remote workers and entrepreneurs that arrived from 2020 onwards has created a critical mass of internationally mobile people in Tbilisi that has in turn driven the development of international schools, expat community infrastructure, coworking spaces, and the general ecosystem that makes family relocation viable rather than merely adventurous.

Georgia is at the inflection point between hidden gem and established destination. Families who arrive in the next two to three years will still experience the energy of somewhere genuinely discovering itself while having access to enough international infrastructure to make family life manageable.

The visa situation: still generous, but the work rules changed in 2026

Citizens of over 90 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and all EU member states, can enter Georgia and stay for up to 365 consecutive days without a visa. No visa application. No visa fees. No registration required for the stay itself. You do, however, need health and accident insurance for every family member, covering the whole stay. You show up, you stay for a year, and if you want to reset the clock you leave for a day and come back.

The crucial change, as noted in the update box above: since 1 March 2026, visa-free entry covers your right to be in Georgia, but no longer automatically covers your right to work there. Foreign nationals working in Georgia now generally fall under a permit framework, and this includes remote and self-employed work. Many families still use the 365-day visa-free entry to trial life in Georgia, assess the schools, lifestyle, and community, and then decide whether to formalise their status — but if you will be earning while there, the work-permit question must be resolved properly, not assumed away. Verify the current position for your nationality and work type before you rely on it. If you like the idea of testing a country before committing, our guide to the trial month shows how to do it well.

For families who want a more formal long-term status, Georgia's residence permit process is relatively straightforward. Standard processing takes around 30 days. Accelerated processing, which takes 10 to 20 days and costs around USD 150, is available. The permit enables access to the state school system, banking, and health insurance on equal terms with Georgian nationals. (As with everything here, confirm current fees and timelines against official sources.)

The cost of living: genuinely transformative

A family of four can live well in Tbilisi for roughly EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,300 a month before international school fees, which add roughly USD 500 to USD 1,250 a month per child. At the higher end of that range, you are living comfortably in a well-furnished apartment in a good neighbourhood, eating well, and having money left for travel and activities. That is far below a comparable lifestyle in most Western European capitals.

The specific numbers in 2026: a three-bedroom apartment in the Vake or Vera neighbourhoods, which are the most popular among expat families, runs between EUR 800 and EUR 1,500 per month. Groceries for a family of four cost roughly EUR 300 to EUR 500 per month depending on how much you buy from local markets versus imported goods. Utilities for a well-sized apartment average EUR 70 per month. Transport is remarkably cheap: a single metro or bus ticket costs around EUR 0.35, and taxis using local apps are affordable by any international standard.

The one cost category that rises toward international norms is international schooling. Annual fees at established international schools in Tbilisi run between USD 5,000 and USD 15,000 per child. That is low by Dubai or Singapore standards but materially higher than the local Georgian private school sector, which operates at around EUR 200 per month for kindergarten and somewhat more for older children. Families whose children are young enough to thrive in a bilingual Georgian-English environment, or who are open to local private schooling, find the cost picture even more favourable.

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International schools in Tbilisi

The international school offering in Tbilisi has expanded considerably in the past five years and continues to grow, though it remains smaller than in more established expat destinations. The established options include QSI International School of Tbilisi, which follows the American curriculum, the British-Georgian Academy, the European School, and the American Academy. Annual fees range from approximately USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 depending on the school and age group.

Several well-regarded bilingual Georgian-English private schools offer a strong academic programme at significantly lower fees, in the range of EUR 3,000 to EUR 6,000 per year. For families planning a stay of two or more years whose children are genuinely open to language immersion, these schools produce excellent outcomes and offer the additional benefit of Georgian language acquisition, which is a genuinely rare and interesting skill.

One practical note: international school places in the most sought-after institutions in Tbilisi are not unlimited. Apply as early as possible, ideally before your departure date is confirmed. The schools are growing their capacity but popular year groups fill quickly. Our guide to choosing a school abroad covers the questions to ask on a school visit.

Healthcare

Since 1 January 2026, foreigners entering Georgia visa-free or on a tourist visa must hold health and accident insurance covering their whole stay, with minimum cover of GEL 30,000. Border officers can check it and refuse entry without it. Holders of a Georgian residence permit are exempt from this rule, but insurance is still strongly recommended. Private clinics in Tbilisi are modern and many doctors speak English, Russian, or both. For routine family healthcare, GP visits, specialist appointments, and standard procedures, Tbilisi's private healthcare is genuinely good and dramatically cheaper than Western equivalents. For highly complex or specialised procedures, some families choose to travel to Turkey, Germany, or Israel, which are all within relatively easy reach of Tbilisi.

Private expat health insurance from providers like Cigna Global or SafetyWing is affordable in Georgia. Comprehensive family coverage that would cost EUR 10,000 to EUR 15,000 annually in Western Europe typically costs EUR 3,000 to EUR 6,000 for a family based in Georgia, reflecting the lower underlying cost of healthcare provision. Whichever policy you choose, check that it names Georgia as a covered country and runs for your full stay. Our guide to healthcare abroad for families explains how to compare options.

The tax situation

Georgia's tax environment is one of its most discussed advantages among internationally mobile professionals. The flat personal income tax rate is 20%. For freelancers and self-employed individuals registered as Individual Entrepreneurs, a 1% turnover tax applies on income under a certain threshold, making it one of the most favourable tax environments available to self-employed people anywhere in the world. Note that since the 2026 work-permit changes, registering and operating as a self-employed person sits within the new permit framework — so the tax advantage and the right to work need to be confirmed together, not treated separately.

Georgia is not in the EU and is not subject to EU tax reporting frameworks. It has a territorial tax system, meaning foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed in Georgia. For families with income sourced from outside Georgia, this creates a potentially favourable tax position. Take specific advice from a qualified adviser familiar with both your home country's tax rules and Georgian tax law before acting on this, as the interaction between home country exit taxes, treaty provisions, and Georgian law varies significantly by situation.

Daily life in Tbilisi

Tbilisi is a city that rewards curiosity. The Old Town, Abanotubani, is a maze of sulphur bathhouses, vine-draped balconies, and Orthodox churches, genuinely one of the most photogenic urban environments in the world. The food culture is extraordinary: Georgian cuisine, built around fresh vegetables, walnut-based sauces, grilled meats, and the world's oldest wine-making tradition, is something families tend to fall in love with quickly. The city has a thriving restaurant and cafe culture, and dining out for a family of four costs a fraction of what it would in any Western European city.

The expat community in Tbilisi has grown substantially and is active and welcoming. Facebook groups, WhatsApp communities, coworking spaces, and regular social events create a genuine social infrastructure for newly arrived families. Children tend to integrate quickly into the international school community, which is accustomed to a constant flow of new arrivals.

The surrounding country is extraordinary. The Caucasus Mountains are on the doorstep. The Black Sea coast is a few hours by road. Wine country, ancient monasteries, ski resorts, and hiking trails are all accessible as weekend destinations. Families with children who thrive on outdoor life and adventure find Georgia exceptional in this regard.

The honest challenges

Georgia is not a comfort move and it is worth being honest about that. The Georgian language is one of the most difficult in the world for speakers of European languages, with its own unique script and grammar structure. Daily life outside the international community, and outside interactions with English-speaking Georgians, requires either Russian (widely spoken among older Georgians) or patience and goodwill on both sides. Families who invest in even basic Georgian make their daily life significantly easier and earn genuine warmth from locals in return.

The international school offering, while growing, is limited compared to Dubai, Singapore, or the major European capitals. Families with specific curriculum requirements, particularly families mid-way through the IB diploma programme or British A-levels, should verify their preferred curriculum is available before committing.

Georgia's geopolitical position, bordered by Russia to the north with a complicated and unresolved history, is a consideration that families should engage with honestly rather than ignore. The country is stable and daily life is safe and normal, but the regional context is one that informed families should understand before they move.

Banking for new arrivals requires patience. TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia are the two major institutions and both serve expats well once accounts are established, but the account opening process requires a residence permit or substantial documentation. The first few weeks typically involve managing with a multi-currency digital account while the local account is being set up.

What family life in Georgia actually costs

Tbilisi, mid-range expat lifestyle

• Rent, three-bedroom apartment in Vake or Vera: EUR 800 to EUR 1,500 per month
• Groceries for a family of four: EUR 300 to EUR 500
• International school fees, one child: USD 500 to USD 1,250 per month
• Private health insurance for the family: EUR 250 to EUR 500 per month
• Transport, taxis and public transit: EUR 100 to EUR 200
• Utilities: EUR 70
• Eating out, activities, and leisure: EUR 300 to EUR 500
• Realistic monthly total excluding school fees: EUR 1,820 to EUR 3,270

For context: a comparable lifestyle in Lisbon would cost EUR 4,000 to EUR 6,000 per month. In Amsterdam, EUR 5,500 to EUR 8,000. In Dubai, AED 15,000 to AED 25,000. The Georgia cost advantage is not marginal. It is structural. To build your own numbers, use our guide to the family relocation budget.

Your first 90 days in Tbilisi: a family checklist

Days 1 to 30: land safely

• Arrive with health and accident insurance for every family member, covering your whole planned stay.
• Stay in short-term accommodation while you view apartments in person in Vake, Vera or the areas near your school.
• Use a multi-currency digital account for daily spending while you prepare to open a local bank account.
• Get local SIM cards and download the main taxi apps.
• Visit your children's school, confirm their start date, and meet their teachers.
• If you will earn money in Georgia, book a session with a Georgian immigration adviser about the work permit.

Days 31 to 60: settle in

• Sign a long-term lease, and ask what is included in utilities and building fees.
• Open an account with TBC Bank or Bank of Georgia once you have the documents they ask for.
• Find a private clinic and a paediatrician you trust before you need one.
• Start a few lessons in basic Georgian or Russian. Even a little makes daily life warmer and easier.
• Join a couple of local expat groups and say yes to school and community events.

Days 61 to 90: decide how long to stay

• Decide whether to apply for a residence permit, and note that standard processing takes around 30 days.
• Review your tax position with a qualified adviser, especially if you are self-employed.
• Compare what you are really spending with your budget.
• Note when your 365-day visa-free period ends, so you can plan ahead.
• Plan your first weekend trips to the mountains, wine country or the Black Sea coast. This is where many families fall in love with Georgia.

Who is Tbilisi a good fit for, and who may struggle?

Georgia suits families who are genuinely curious rather than merely adventurous, who value authenticity over convenience, who want to give their children an experience of the world that is genuinely different from the standard expat circuit, and who are attracted by the financial breathing room that dramatically lower costs create.

It suits families whose income is location-independent, who are relocating for a defined period of one to three years rather than indefinitely, and who are open to the idea that the best experiences often come from places the majority have not yet discovered. With the 2026 work-permit changes, location-independent families should build the permit question into their planning from the start rather than assuming the old visa-free-and-work arrangement still applies.

Families may struggle if they need a specific international curriculum that is not yet available in Tbilisi, if they require proximity to a major international hub for frequent travel, or if they prioritise the certainty and familiarity of an established expat infrastructure over the energy of a place still finding its feet.

Still comparing Georgia with other options? Take the 2-minute family destination quiz, or see how it compares in our guide to the easiest countries to move abroad with a family. For the full picture of what any international move involves, read the complete family relocation guide.

If you are seriously considering Georgia, start with our free 120-step family relocation checklist to map out everything the move involves. And when you are ready to work through the decision framework properly, the Global Relocation System includes a destination decision scorecard that helps families compare options like Georgia against more established destinations on the factors that actually matter for their specific situation.