Life in Georgia
Tbilisi.
The city that costs a fifth of London and gives you everything it does.
The numbers
Population
1.26M
Avg. temperature
13°C / 55°F
Flight to London
4h 30m direct
Flight to Dubai
3h direct
International schools
7+
Michelin-recommended
8 restaurants
HNWI annual cost
USD 80–120K
London equivalent
USD 350–450K
Residential districts
Vake
Tbilisi's diplomatic and affluent residential quarter. Tree-lined avenues. Embassies. Walking distance to international schools. Apartment prices: USD 1,200–2,500/sqm. A 200sqm apartment in Vake costs what a studio costs in Chelsea.
Mtatsminda
The old-town hillside district. Renovated 19th-century architecture. Views over the Kura river. Cafés, galleries, and cobblestone streets. The neighbourhood that makes visiting Europeans ask why they still live in London.
Education
Seven international schools. British, American, IB, and German curricula.
British International School of Tbilisi (Cambridge curriculum). QSI International School (American). European School. German International School. International School of Georgia (IB). Green School Tbilisi. Buckswood International.
Tbilisi tuition
USD 8,000–18,000
London equivalent
GBP 25,000–45,000
Food & wine
8,000 years of winemaking. 525 indigenous grape varieties.
Georgia is the birthplace of wine — the oldest continuous winemaking culture on earth. Tbilisi's restaurant scene has been recognised by Michelin. Qvevri-aged amber wines are exported to 60+ countries.
Tbilisi fine dining
USD 30–50 / person
Mayfair equivalent
GBP 150–250 / person
Connectivity
Direct flights to 40+ destinations.
Tbilisi International Airport serves Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Wizz Air, FlyDubai, and Qatar Airways. The Trans-Caspian International Trade Route passes through Georgia — the East–West corridor between Europe and Central Asia.
Healthcare
Private healthcare at a fraction of Western costs.
Tbilisi's leading private hospitals — Todua Clinic, National Center of Surgery, MediClub Georgia — offer specialist care with European-trained physicians. A full executive health screening costs USD 500–800. Medical tourism is a growing sector. For HNWI families, private medical retainer arrangements are available through Aurum's relocation concierge.
The cost comparison
What USD 120,000 buys annually in Tbilisi
USD 120K
- 200sqm apartment in Vake (rental or mortgage)
- Two children at international school
- Private healthcare
- Full-time domestic help
- Car and driver
- Weekly fine dining
- Monthly domestic travel
The same lifestyle in London requires
USD 400–500K
Private school fees alone (two children) consume USD 60,000–100,000. A comparable apartment in Chelsea or Kensington costs USD 80,000–150,000 annually. Full-time domestic help: USD 50,000+. The arithmetic is inescapable.