Digital nomad life in Tbilisi, Georgia has become something of a cliché in remote-work circles, but the hype is justified in ways the posts don't fully explain.

My monthly costs for a full month in March 2025: apartment (1BR near Vake Park, Airbnb but monthly rate) $420, food $180 (cooking most days, eating out 3-4 times/week), coworking space $60/month at Fabrika, transport $12 (metro is 50 tetri per ride, about $0.18), coffee shop work sessions $35, phone SIM $8, entertainment/activities $55. Total: $770.

For context, this was a comfortable month, not an austere one. I ate well, went to bars, took a day trip to Mtskheta, and had a private apartment with a washing machine.

The practical advantages beyond cost: Georgia's 1-year visa-free policy for most Western passport holders, strong fiber internet (I consistently got 200+ Mbps at the apartment), a large and established expat community that isn't insular, and genuinely good food culture. The Georgian wine situation alone is worth the trip.

Downside that doesn't get mentioned: the public infrastructure outside the capital is rough, air quality in the city is genuinely bad (coal heating), and the city is significantly hillier than photos suggest which matters if you're walking everywhere.