The standard of living in Georgia is getting closer to European, but accommodation, food, transport and leisure are relatively un-expensive compared to many other countries, that’s why Georgia, differentiates itself with low living costs. For instance Costs of living in Tbilisi are in the least expensive 10 percent of cities and average living expenses are significantly lower than other cities, also we have to consider that the cost of living in the city centre is higher as compared to living outside the city centre. That’s why international students tend to come to Georgia for high quality graduate studies.

In addition to tuition fees and housing costs, around 20,950–28,370 GBP per month is required to meet expenditures on food, transportation, cell phone and other personal needs adding up to 228,050–317,040 GBP per year (includes ground transportation, food, bills, etc.).

Hostel/ Accommodation in Georgia is managed by some universities, while in some universities, students stay off Campus and are completely responsible for their wellbeing. There are good hotels with basic equipment and conducive environment suitable for students. International students, who are applying to study in Georgia, need be aware of the accommodation state of the country. They are expected to ask and or know if the particular institution they are applying for handles the accommodation process. Students can find accommodations for different prices in Georgian cities. It depends, what requirements they have. If they are looking for cheap accommodation, they can choose home-stay in a hospitable Georgian Family, Monthly price starts from Rs.9,270. Average price for the apartment of 40-60m2 starts from Rs.16,690 per month, the apartment can be shared by several students. Also there are some hotels and the daily prices starts from Rs.3,710.

It is necessary for all the students to sign an agreement with the landlord as it will be submitted to the local Migration authorities as a proof of residence for the issuance of the Residence Permit.

Transportation<

Georgia’s geographic location, bridging several economic regions, provides it with a unique competitive advantage as the transit country. Situated at the crossroads between Europe and Central Asia, it functions as the natural transport corridor between the West and the East.

The Black Sea ports of Georgia, well-developed railway systems together with airports, buses, taxis, serve as the infrastructure linking the largest markets and regions.

There are four airports in Georgia and three biggest are: Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport, Aleksandre Kartveli Batumi International Airport and David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport.

The only subway in the country is situated in the capital of Tbilisi. Underground, called the Metro for “Metropolitan”. It has two lines with 23 stations.

• Runs from North to South – red line;
• Runs East to West – green line;
• The major transport artery of Georgia is East-West Highway which is the main route from east to west Georgia and directs motorists from neighbouring Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey and Armenia. Major highways are: E60 – E70 (Tbilisi – Turkey), E117 (Tbilisi – Russia), E001 (Tbilisi – Armenia), E60 (Tbilisi – Azerbaijan).

There are four functioning seaports – Batumi, Poti, Kulevi, and Supsa – in Georgia and one, that of Anaklia, is under construction.

Weather Conditions

Georgia has a warm, temperate climate with pleasant weather that will definitely improve students’ mood, memory and broadening cognitive style like openness to new information and creative thoughts. Thanks to its geographical location, it enjoys a varied climate, which is mostly sub-tropical. The summers are hot and humid, and winters are mildly cold. While the northern mountain peaks are permanently snowbound, the west coastal areas by the Black Sea enjoy a year-round balmy weather. The average temperature in the east in summer ranges between 60°F to 75°F (20°C – 24°C) and in winter ranges between 36°F to 39°F (2°C – 4°C). The western Georgia experiences a sub-tropical, maritime climate and in summer the average temperature is 72°F (22°C), dropping to 41°F (5°C) in winter.

The Likhi mountain range divides the country into western and eastern halves, shielding the eastern part of the country from the influence of the Black Sea, and creating a continental climate. The western part of the country can get humid and experiences rainfall throughout the year, although it is at its heaviest in the autumn and winter months. In the east rainfall peaks in spring and winter is the driest season; although the mountainous areas receive a lot of rain, generally the amount of rainfall decreases with distance from the coast.

Georgia is a very safe country for travellers with one of the lowest crime levels in Europe. The local government strives to protect and ensure the safety and security of its citizens and institutions within the borders of the country, recognized by the global community. Georgia is guided by international laws and principles and therefore, recognizes that safety is inseparable in terms of citizens’ interdependence as well as in the international system, because the safety of one state cannot be achieved at the expense of the security of the other state.

Universities create a safe environment for health, life and property within the campus as well as in the campus surrounding areas. In order to provide safety on the territory of the university campuses the legislated actions are taken by the law enforcement agencies. In addition, every university campus is protected by security guards and is equipped with CCTV cameras to provide secured environment for students.