Standing tall from its perch in the isolated Caucasus mountains, on the furthest reaches of what could be properly considered Eastern Europe, as well as the beginning of West Asia, lies the beautiful, isolated, and increasingly popular nation of Georgia – which has quickly become known as one of the best places to move to in the entire region.
Known by the many who still inhabit the states which once made up the former Soviet Union, for its incredible food, history, art, and nature, it has only been recently that digital nomads and expats in the know have begun to realize that moving to Georgia, the nation often confused with the southern USA state, is a truly fantastic option for those considering establishing a new home in the Eastern European region.
Having lived in Georgia in the past myself, I can confirm that all the rumors about this tiny, mysterious nation, with a huge, unique personality, are absolutely true – and for those thinking about moving to Georgia, think no further – you’ve certainly found the country you are looking for. But of course, with travel and expatriation from the West to the former Soviet republic having only really started taking off in the second decade of the 21st century, there are many things to consider in your goal of moving to Georgia.
After all, as is the case with all countries and cities, there are many pros and cons to consider when planning your next move, and planning on moving to Georgia is no exception to that. As such, here are my personal top 10 pros and cons to consider when moving to Georgia, as I found out by moving there myself – and I hope they can help you better prepare for a new, amazing chapter in your life, as you enter a new world of discovery and wonder, in Eastern Europe’s most hidden, faraway gem.
PROS: Very Affordable For All Budgets
Perhaps one of the first things that people moving to Georgia first hear about the place is the almost absurd affordability and value to be had, for those coming into the country getting paid in foreign currencies, such as the U.S Dollar or Japanese Yen. It’s all true – Georgia still remains one of the cheapest places to live for foreigners globally, with prices far lower then the global average.
And yet, despite the great affordability that any savvy expat, retiree, or digital nomad may soon discover once moving to Georgia, a geo-arbitrage play in this far-flung Eastern European nation will also not sacrifice anything by way of quality for the low prices to be found – offering a best of both worlds kind of environment, as well as very high quality of life for those who want their money to go further here, than in many places on the planet.
PROS: Very Generous Immigration Policy
Yet another reason why moving to Georgia has become a very attractive proposition for expats of all shades is the nation’s incredibly open immigration policy, which has attracted foreigners in droves, looking to stay in a place longer than the often rudimentary 30 or 90 days that are given out by most countries when handing out initial tourist visas.
Georgia blows right past this by offering a nearly unheard of 1 year visa-free entry for nationalities of 94 countries, placing it at the very top of the list for ease of entry for those not quite sure about purchasing real estate or starting a business somewhere for the sake of gaining a temporary residence permit, but still wanting a longer stay in a beautiful, new place. Moving to Georgia certainly provides on this regard – with only Albania coming close to the generous nature of its immigration policies.
PROS: Unbelievable Natural Beauty
Of course, it would be remiss to not talk about one of the major reasons why moving to Georgia has also become one of the most popular decisions modern-day expats and digital nomads alike have started to make, and that of course would have to be about all the gorgeous sights to be seen within this mountain capped nation.
From the majestic beauty to be found high in the stunning vistas of the Carpathian Mountains, to the beautiful, shimmering coast of the Black Sea, to even the quaint, rolling hills of the country’s lovely vineyards, moving to Georgia will provide you with a kind of stunning scenery that can only be described as something out of a storybook – easily placing this tiny nation as one of the world’s most gorgeous places for flora, fauna, and fantastic views, as far as the eye can see.
PROS: Fantastic Culinary Culture
Perhaps one of the most famous reasons why moving to Georgia has been such a huge draw in recent years, not only in the west, but also in the former states that once made up the Soviet Union, is the fantastic food offerings that the nation is widely praised for – as some of the best culinary delights to be had in nations stretching from Ukraine to Kazakhstan to even Mongolia, are actually Georgian restaurants, serving up some of the most delicious (and hearty!) food on the planet.
From the buttery, warm goodness of khachapuri, a kind of Georgian pizza, to the soft, brothy delights of biting into one of the many variations of khinkali, the local version of dumplings, to even a delicious local take on sarma, among many other culinary delights, as well as the best wine on the planet (yes, you heard me right, no contest, end of story, Georgian wine really is the best)! If you plan on moving to Georgia, prepare to unbuckle your belt – because the delicious food here will be sure to always keep you coming back for more.
PROS: Incredible History and Architectural Delights
Meanwhile, if you are a city-dweller and history lover, like yours truly, and love to explore the rich, tapestry of a people’s culture by way of their architectural exploits, then moving to Georgia is sure to bring out the history nerd in you. Standing as one of the oldest Christian nations, Georgia once had a little empire of their own, as well as had one of the the ancient world’s most important female rulers who is honored to this day, in Queen Tamar.
But Georgia has also begun a modern-day technological reconnaissance, placing shiny, new skyscrapers and modern buildings right next to some of the oldest architecture in the world, as well as former concrete blocks still standing from the days of the Soviet occupation, creating a kind of fusion between the past, present and future that few cities are able to truly master like Tbilisi has, the capital of this tiny, proud nation. Long story short, if you’re planning on moving to Georgia, prepare for a sensory explosion of history, culture, and beauty to be found, down every street corner and alley.
CONS: Not The Friendliest Local Populace
Unfortunately there are no perfect places on earth (even if Georgia definitely comes close to footing that bill!), and as such if you plan on moving to Georgia, then one thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that the local populace in this tiny, geographically isolated nation aren’t the most warm and welcoming to newcomers, who have begun arriving in droves to their homeland.
Perhaps due to the leftover coldness that can be found in many ex-Soviet republics, as well as the recent popularity and rising immigration levels that have started taking over their country, local Georgians can be a bit icy when you first meet them, and reports of racism and xenophobia are unfortunately not as uncommon as they might be in even other destinations in Eastern Europe. However, this is not to discourage those from moving to Georgia – but simply a reminder that the best things in life take time, and if you press on through, and show the locals your intent to not just be another backpacker passing through, you may indeed win over the hearts and minds of your neighbors, to finally enjoy their genuine hospitality and warmth.
CONS: Price Increases Imminent
Additionally, although moving to Georgia has for the most part promised low prices for high quality in the past, this may be unfortunately starting to slowly change for the worst. Higher immigration levels from those fleeing the recent war in Eastern Europe have caused landlords in cities from Tbilisi to Batumi to begin rising their rents to take advantage of the desperate new arrivals, while the rise of global inflation has also taken its toll on the local economy, forcing prices to slowly uptick from where they once were.
Although moving to Georgia still remains a deeply affordable option for expats looking at a great geo-arbitrage play, it no longer has the same kind of value it once did, as even this paradisaical mountaintop nation is not isolated enough from the world’s problems to remain untouched by the economic madness that has begun plaguing the globe as we begin the second decade of the 21st century.
CONS: Regional Political Turmoil
Another thing to consider when moving to Georgia is its more long standing issue of being in a rather hotly contested neighborhood, the Caucasus Region, shared between it, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan. The tensions between their local neighbors to the south (as well as the recent and current skirmishes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region), as well as its close proximity to Iran, may not affect Georgia directly, but living on the edge of a knife can feel a bit nerve wracking at times, if not exciting.
But perhaps the one geo-political issue that does in fact affect Georgia directly is its relations with Russia, its massive neighbor to the north, who to this day still occupies one-fifth of the nation, and provides military support to the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, of which Georgia recently fought a war over. Although Russia does seem more preoccupied with a war with a different nation these days, anyone moving to Georgia must understand that politics and military policies can shift like the wind, and should prepare for any possibilities that might arise as a result of the conflicts nearby.
CONS: Difficult Linguistic Differences
Perhaps one of the hardest things to get used to when moving to Georgia unfortunately would have to be the local language, which due to the nation’s relative isolation due to its physical geography, developed a written alphabet and way of speaking that is almost completely unrelated to any other place on the planet.
Consisting of some of the admittedly most beautiful written letters for a language I’ve ever seen, Georgian unfortunately also suffers from a habit of combining a massive amount of consonants without vowels into a single word – creating a word salad that can be extremely jarring to those coming from Latin or Germanic based languages to comprehend, let alone pronounce. Although Russian is also widely spoken by the older populace, and English is increasingly becoming more common among the younger locals, if you plan on moving to Georgia, understand that being lost in translation will be less the exception, and more of the rule, unless you undertake the very substantial effort of learning the local lingo.
CONS: National Infrastructure Standards
Lastly, although the country has begun developing amazingly modern architectural sights, and has proven to be an early adapter to many cutting edge apps and technologies, if you plan on moving to Georgia, one must understand that the nation is still very much recovering from many, long years of communism even to this day, and as such much of the nation’s infrastructure still remains dilapidated, old, and in need of repair.
This can include many structures for living, with some looking in danger of total collapse, while the public transportation network within the country (with the exception of Tbilisi-Batumi) can be rather lacking, as big, comfortable buses that are far more common in other places in Eastern Europe are rather scarce in this Caucasus mountain nation, with the appearance of smaller, cramped matrushka vans far more likely needing to be used to get you to your final destination. If you plan on moving to Georgia, plan on bringing all the patience you have, as it is certainly required when dealing with a country still very much a part of the developing world, albeit certainly moving in the right direction.
Destination: Georgia, A Faraway, Mysterious Land of Enchanting Wonder
Despite the many hardships and struggles that this small, isolated nation has gone through over the centuries, Georgia has quietly and defiantly pushed itself forward into prominence, proving that a belief in itself, and a huge heart, is enough to make up for any shortcomings that might have held it back in the past.
Having been privileged enough to get to live in this beautiful country in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, I can say with all assurance that despite its shortcomings, Georgia has become one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to or lived, and would certainly be an amazing destination for any expats or digital nomads planning on moving to Georgia themselves.
If you are planning on moving to Georgia, or are looking to compare this lovely nation to others within Eastern Europe, why not check out my in-depth analysis and breakdown of my top nations to relocate to within the region here? I certainly wish you the best of luck in your travels and your dreams, as you look to move, and improve your life, with a potential move to Georgia, or to many of the nations we here at Eureka Expat recommend for moving to all over the world!