Georgia (GE)
Caucasus gateway with long visa-free stays for many nationalities, low business taxes, mountain-and-wine culture, and a fast-changing 2026 work-permit environment.
Daily Life
Practical day-to-day information for living in Georgia.
🛒 Supermarkets
Large supermarkets and hypermarkets; useful for imported goods and card payments.
Often 24/7 in Tbilisi; convenient but not always cheapest.
Higher-end groceries, bakery, deli, and imported products.
Very common neighbourhood shops for basics, meat, dairy, and snacks.
Good produce, specialty products, and prepared food; popular with expats.
Best for seasonal produce, herbs, cheese, nuts, and bargaining practice.
Opening Hours
Many supermarkets open daily, some 24/7. Banks and public offices usually operate weekdays. Public Service Hall has extended service options but appointment/queue timing matters.
Sunday Rules
No Germany-style Sunday closure. Shops, malls, restaurants, and markets usually open on Sundays, except public offices and some small businesses.
Recycling
Formal recycling is limited compared with Western Europe. Separate collection points exist in parts of Tbilisi/Batumi, while informal collectors handle much cardboard, metal, and bottles.
Dining Out
Tbilisi has strong cafe, wine bar, bakery, Georgian, Middle Eastern, Ukrainian, Indian, and modern European scenes. Budget meals can be 12-25 GEL; mid-range dinners 35-80 GEL per person.
Utilities & Internet
Electricity, gas, water, internet, and building fees may be separate from rent. Heating method matters: gas boiler, electric heaters, and poor insulation change winter costs dramatically.
Cultural Tips for Expats
- → Georgians often use first names quickly, but respect elders and hosts carefully.
- → A supra is a structured feast led by a tamada; do not feel forced to drink heavily.
- → Learn basic Georgian script and greetings; it earns goodwill and helps with addresses.
- → Street addresses can be confusing because old and new names may coexist.
- → Political demonstrations happen in central Tbilisi; avoid crowds if tensions rise.
Quiet Hours
There is no Germany-style nationwide quiet-hours culture, but condos, landlords, police nuisance rules, and neighbours still matter.
Music, renovation, parties, and dogs
Renovation noise and contractor work
Dress, noise, photography, and respectful behaviour
- •Renting above a bar without visiting at night
- •Ignoring thin walls in Soviet-era blocks
- •Assuming police will resolve all neighbour disputes quickly
Neighbour conflict, lease termination pressure, police callouts, or deposit disputes.
Postal Services
Georgian Post handles domestic and international mail, while private couriers are common for parcels and business deliveries.
Parcel lockers and pickup points are expanding but not universal.
Bring passport or residence card for registered mail, banks, notaries, and many courier pickups.
Use tracking for official documents. Couriers may call in Georgian or Russian before delivery.
Plan private forwarding for international parcels; customs/VAT rules can surprise newcomers.
- →Use Latin and Georgian address formats where possible
- →Add phone number to every parcel
- →Avoid shipping high-value electronics without checking customs rules