Moving to Batumi: the first month step by step
Moving to Batumi is easier to start with renting rather than buying. In the first months it becomes clear which area suits you, how the city lives in summer and winter and what matters in an apartment. We have set out the steps for those who come for the long term: where to look for housing, how to sign a lease and get the deposit back, how to open an account, what about visas and how to prepare for a humid winter.
People move to Batumi for different reasons: remote work, the sea, a mild winter, a clear process for buying property. The first weeks decide a lot. You can settle in calmly within a month and understand where to live next, or you can sign a poor lease or buy an apartment in the wrong area. Below is the order we recommend to those who come for the long term.
Moving to Batumi: rent first, buy later
Even if you came intending to buy an apartment, start with a two- or three-month rental. In that time it becomes clear where you are comfortable: by the sea or in a residential quarter, in a new complex or a simpler building, near a school or near the promenade. The city looks different in summer and in winter, and an apartment you like in September may turn out damp and surrounded by empty flats in January. How to find housing for the first period is described on the page about rentals for relocators.
Where to live: areas and seasons
By the sea, on the New Boulevard and Khimshiashvili Street, there are many new complexes with pools and reception, but in summer it is noisy with many tourists, and in winter many floors empty. In the centre and the Old Town life goes on all year, with parks, cafés and everything you need nearby. Residential quarters such as Bagrationi, Aghmashenebeli and Boni are cheaper and quieter, with schools, markets and neighbours who live here permanently. An overview of all areas is on the page about Batumi.
The season strongly affects the price. From June to September owners of seaside apartments prefer daily guests, and a long let is harder and more expensive to find. From October to May the choice is wider and owners are more willing to let by the month. How long-term rentals work and what to check in the apartment is described on the page about long-term rentals.
The lease and the deposit
It is better to sign a written lease, even for a few months. It should state the term, the price and currency, who pays the utilities and the building charge, the deposit and the conditions for its return, and the rules for leaving early. On moving in, make an inventory of the furniture and appliances and photograph the apartment: this protects both you and the owner. Pay by bank transfer rather than in cash without a receipt. If the price is set in dollars and you will pay in lari, state in the lease which exchange rate applies. How such a lease works from the owner's side is described on the page about the lease and deposit.
Bank, phone, documents
A local SIM card is issued on your passport in a few minutes, and mobile internet in Georgia is fast and inexpensive. A Georgian bank account can be opened without a residence permit or a local address: you need a passport and a clear answer to where the money comes from and why you need the account. Some banks open accounts only in person. More on the page about opening a bank account in Georgia.
Documents from your country that may be needed, such as marriage or children's birth certificates, are best brought with an apostille. They can be translated into Georgian and certified locally. If you are self-employed, sort out your tax status in Georgia in the first months rather than at the end of the year: both taxes and the documents a bank will later ask for depend on it.
Visa and residence permit
Citizens of many countries can live in Georgia without a visa for a long time, for many passports up to a year. The rules depend on citizenship and sometimes change, so check them for your country on official websites before travelling. Renting an apartment does not give the right to a residence permit. One can be obtained, for example, through work, business or buying property above the set threshold. The conditions for property are described on the page about residence permits through property.
Daily life: climate, transport, schools
Batumi's climate is mild but humid, and you need to be ready for it. Snow by the sea is rare in winter, but rain comes in spells of several days, and in an apartment without a dehumidifier stains quickly appear on the walls. When choosing housing, look at the corners, wardrobes on outside walls and whether there is an air conditioner with heating and dry modes. Most buildings have no central heating: people heat with air conditioners, electric or gas boilers, and the winter electricity bill can be noticeable.
Buses and taxis are convenient for getting around the city, and many people manage without a car. For trips to the mountains and along the coast a car is useful, and it can be rented. With children, find out about schools and kindergartens in advance: Batumi has state and private schools teaching in different languages, and places for the school year are best booked before summer.
When you decide to buy
After a few months of living in the city you already know which area suits you, what life costs and what matters in an apartment. Then buying becomes easier: it is clear what to look for, and it is easier to tell a good offer from advertising. How we find and check apartments is described on the page about buying an apartment in Batumi. If you have bought an apartment and do not know where to start, take a look at our article on the first three months after buying.