Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Cheap living and great WiFi: Digital nomads are flocking to Georgia

Cheap living and great WiFi: Digital nomads are flocking to Georgia

A must-see bucket list country pre-pandemic, Georgia is the latest destination to tempt digital nomads to stay.

A country that has become immensely popular in recent years as a tourist destination, Georgia is now seeing an influx of thousands of foreigners flocking from all corners of the world to work there remotely.

But the delicious local cuisine, culture and scenic beauty alone do not explain the interest of "digital nomads" in this nation of less than four million people, wedged between the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains.

"Life is much cheaper here, internet access is very good and security is better than in most countries in the world," says Candy Treft, 51, a former medical worker from the US:

Arriving in Georgia in 2019, this seasoned traveller has now opened a shared office space for teleworkers in a house in the old town of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital.

Burgeoning tourism sector hit by COVID-19


Georgia has already emerged as a tourist destination with the launch in 2004 of major infrastructure projects and the renovation of several city centres, such as the coastal city of Batumi and Mestia, at the foot of the mountains.

In 2019, around nine million tourists visited the country, more than twice the size of the Georgian population.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to this sector, which accounted for 5 per cent of Georgia's GDP. In 2020, the economy contracted by 6 per cent and lost over 100,000 jobs, according to official figures.

In the hope of compensating for these losses, the Georgian government launched a programme last summer to attract wealthy remote workers with the promise of travel despite anti-COVID-19 restrictions.

"This programme aims to attract visitors with high incomes in a situation where a massive influx of tourists is impossible," Tea Tchantchibadze, spokesperson for the National Tourism Administration, told AFP.

Live and work in Georgia for a year


The scheme allows nationals from 95 countries who can prove a monthly income of more than $2,000 (€1,670) to come and live and work in Georgia for a year. They must also have tested negative for coronavirus or been vaccinated against the disease.

About 2,300 people have applied for the programme, and more than 800 have already arrived in the country, says Tchantchibadze.

Georgia had the epidemic under control until late summer 2020, but the situation has worsened since September. By the end of February, the country had recorded nearly 270,000 infections, resulting in about 2,500 deaths.

Digital nomad Andrew Braun, a 28-year-old web developer working in Tbilisi on February 16, 2021


Andrew Braun, a 28-year-old computer developer from New Jersey, US, says Georgia is "a great place to explore even in the time of Covid".

"What I like most is the friendliness and openness of the culture. I'm an outsider but I never feel too out of place here," he says, noting the increasing arrival of other "digital nomads".

According to him, they have diverse profiles but are attracted by a common curiosity and a "desire to explore".

Lifestyle drawbacks


Compared to ordinary tourists, he believes that these 21st century nomads "can immerse themselves a bit more in the countries and cultures" where they work.

However, this lifestyle also has its drawbacks and constraints.

According to a study by Britain's Cranfield University, companies tend to "reinforce" the workload of their remote employees "with demands that cannot be met within a certain time frame".

Overtime, round-the-clock e-mail, lack of holiday time or sleep: all of these practices are encouraged by remote working and can have a negative impact on health. Even in Georgia.

Not to mention the loneliness of travellers far from their families.

Braun admits that sometimes life is "better" when you work abroad. But sometimes, "you take all your problems with you, too".

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Qatar Airways Clears Backlog of Passengers Following Missile Threats
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
×