You have signed the lease agreement, received the keys to your Tbilisi apartment, and closed the door behind the realtor. It feels like the hardest part is over. However, it is during the very first month that expats encounter minor household culture shocks—ranging from coin-operated elevators to tracking down local equivalents of familiar medications.
To ensure your adaptation in Georgia is entirely stress-free, the Flip Flat team has put together this practical guide on what to do, understand, and set up during your first 30 days in a new apartment.
Step 1. Figuring Out Utilities and... Pay-As-You-Go Elevators
Utility services in Georgia operate efficiently, but the payment system itself frequently catches newcomers off guard.
- Yellow terminals (PayBox): They are located on every corner and in every supermarket. In Tbilisi, you can use them to pay for absolutely everything—from internet to water. However, it is much more convenient to download a local bank's app (TBC or Bank of Georgia) as soon as you open an account; paying inside the app takes just two clicks.
- Coin-operated elevators: If you settle in an older building or Soviet-era apartment blocks ("Czech projects"), get some change ready. To go up, you need to drop a 5 or 10 tetri coin into a special metal box. In modern residential complexes, the system is more civilized: you will be issued a magnetic key card, which can be topped up via the same PayBox.
- Balance control: Electricity and gas in Tbilisi are cut off automatically and very quickly for non-payment—this usually happens around the middle of the month, typically on the 15th. Keep in mind that tenants rarely receive SMS notifications from utility companies since the accounts are registered to the property owners. To avoid being left in the dark, simply check your balances regularly through your banking app.
Step 2. Setting Up the Climate and Dealing with Heating
Tbilisi does not have central city-wide heating in the traditional sense. Each apartment is an autonomous ecosystem that you manage entirely on your own.
- Gas Boiler (Individual Central Heating): The most popular option in modern buildings. Learn how to adjust the temperature directly on the boiler itself (usually located on the balcony or in the kitchen) to avoid overpaying. On the other hand, it is best to completely steer clear of apartments equipped with a "Karma" (a gas heater mounted directly inside the wall) during your housing search.
- Climate and humidity: In the transition seasons, due to local climate patterns, Tbilisi can experience high humidity levels, which can potentially lead to mold on the walls. This is a known issue in the city, and it is managed by simply airing out the rooms regularly.
- Gas smell: Save the number of the local gas emergency service, Tbilisi Energy (114), in your phone. If you ever think you smell gas in the kitchen or near the boiler, call them without hesitation. The emergency crew responds instantly and arrives free of charge.
Step 3. Managing Daily Life: Grocery Shopping and Waste Disposal Rules
When it comes to daily errands, Tbilisi perfectly blends the convenience of a modern metropolis with the distinct charm of a southern city.
- Where to buy groceries: For quick daily shopping, local supermarket chains like Spar, Ioli, Nikora, and 2Nabiji will do perfectly. For larger grocery hauls, head to Carrefour or Agrohub (the latter is more expensive but offers an excellent selection of farm-fresh products and premium ready-to-eat meals).
- Produce stands ("Khil-Bostani"): The golden rule for any expat is to avoid buying fruits, vegetables, and greens at supermarkets. There are small, privately-owned produce stands on almost every street. The items there are always fresher, more fragrant, and cheaper, plus you can often pick up authentic, homemade Sulguni cheese.
- Where to throw away trash: A crucial detail—Tbilisi buildings (even the tallest new developments) do not have trash chutes. None at all. You must take all your trash out yourself in tightly tied bags and drop it into the large plastic bins (usually green, blue, or black) lined up along the roads every 50 to 100 meters.
Step 4. Safety, Healthcare, and Pharmacies
Understanding how emergency assistance works in a foreign country provides an essential foundation of safety.
- Emergency Number 112: In Georgia, the police, ambulance, and fire department are all reachable via a single number—112. The call is free and accessible even with a zero balance or from a locked phone screen.
- Language barrier: If you need to call an ambulance, do not panic about the language. 112 operators speak Georgian, Russian, and English. When you call, the automated recording will play in Georgian first—just wait for an operator to answer and speak in Russian or English, and you will be transferred to the right specialist.
- Pharmacies and medications: The largest pharmacy chains in the city are PSP, Aversi, and Pharmadepot. Keep in mind that Georgia enforces strict controls on prescription drugs. Most strong antibiotics, sedatives, and specialized medications will not be sold to you without a prescription from a local doctor.
Step 5. Understanding Tbilisi Neighbor Etiquette
Georgians are incredibly friendly, but living in apartment buildings comes with its own unspoken rules.
- Noise regulations: In Tbilisi, noise rules depend strictly on the time of day. Any loud sounds—construction, drilling walls, or blasting music—must legally stop by 19:00. Evening hours last from 19:00 to 23:00, during which the permitted noise level drops, and after 23:00 until 8:00, any noise must be kept to an absolute minimum. That said, when it comes to ordinary everyday sounds—children playing or pets barking in apartments—Tbilisi residents show phenomenal tolerance, so no one will pick a fight over such things.
- Neighborliness: If you settle in an authentic neighborhood like Chugureti or Vera, neighbors will definitely start greeting you and asking how you like Tbilisi. This is not an invasion of personal boundaries, but genuine Caucasian hospitality. Always respond with a smile and a polite "Gamarjoba" (hello).
- Staying in touch with the landlord: Maintain contact with your landlord via messengers as you would with a friend. This is the person who can always recommend the best weekend getaways, tell you where to buy good wine or fresh meat, and guide you through any lifestyle questions, even those unrelated to the apartment. And if something breaks down, they are sure to have "their own trusted repairman, Vano," who will show up and fix the issue faster and cheaper.
📌 Expat Checklist (Save to Notes)
The long-term rental agency Flip Flat does not just help you find the perfect square meters in Tbilisi—we ensure you adapt smoothly to your new city. We remain in close contact with our clients long after the lease is signed, helping to resolve any legal or household matters. Welcome to Tbilisi!