Why Batumi

A seaside city that grew by half in ten years, with property open to foreigners, light taxes and a residence permit through real estate. Here is the case, figure by figure, and what to keep in mind.

The centre of Batumi in October 2026. Photo: Erez.Gt / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Eight reasons buyers choose Batumi

$1,986per m²

Prices that keep rising

Turnkey new-builds averaged $1,986 per m² in August 2026, 11.2% more than a year earlier (Galt & Taggart).

7.1%gross yield

Rental income

The city-wide gross rental yield was 7.1% in June 2026. Long-term rents averaged $10.6 to $12.3 per m² a month in the districts surveyed (Galt & Taggart).

$150,000property value

A residence permit

Since 1 March 2026, owning property worth at least $150,000 lets a foreigner apply for a renewable residence permit. An investor permit starts at $300,000.

5%on rent

Light taxes

An individual renting out a home pays 5% of the gross rent. Registering a purchase costs from 150 GEL.

+54%in ten years

A city that grows

The 2024 census counted 235,668 people in Batumi, 54% more than in 2014, the fastest growth of any Georgian municipality (Geostat).

25°Csea in summer

Sea and sun

A humid subtropical climate: about 23°C in August, mild winters, and a sea that reaches about 25°C in July and August.

31air routes

Easy to reach

Batumi airport had 31 scheduled routes to 26 destinations in 13 countries in June 2026. Tbilisi is about 5 hours by train.

63%foreign buyers

International demand

Foreign buyers made up 63% of sales in the projects surveyed by Galt & Taggart in the first quarter of 2026.

Batumi next to Tbilisi, Antalya and Budva

Four cities that buyers from abroad look at in 2026, side by side on what matters for an investment.

	BatumiGeorgia, Black Sea	TbilisiGeorgia, the capital	AntalyaTurkey, Mediterranean	BudvaMontenegro, Adriatic
Price per m²	$1,986New turnkey apartments, August 2026	$1,426New apartments, July 2026	$1,114All homes, October 2026 (55,064 lira)	$3,956Apartments for sale, Q3 2026 (€3,581)
Gross rental yield	7.1%June 2026	8.3%August 2026	≈5.9%Rent repays the price in 17 years, May 2026	5.0%Q3 2026
Residence permit through property	$150,000Since 1 March 2026	$150,000Same Georgian rule	$200,000Since October 2023	€150,000About $165,700, since 17 January 2026
Currency	Lari	Lari	Turkish liraInflation 29.8% a year in October 2026	Euro

The figures come from different sources and methods: new-build averages for Georgia, valuations for Antalya and asking prices for Budva. Compare the orders of magnitude rather than the exact gaps. Yields are gross, before costs and tax. The Antalya yield is worked out from the payback period (1 ÷ 17). Euro amounts are converted at the National Bank of Georgia rates of 14 November 2026.

Sources: Galt & Taggart, TBC Capital, Endeksa, Emlakjet, Estitor, national residence rules.

What to keep in mind

Yields are falling
Gross yield fell from 8.8% in 2024 to 7.1% in June 2026 as new apartments come onto the rental market (Galt & Taggart).
A lot of supply
15,354 apartments were for sale in the projects Galt & Taggart surveyed in September 2026. Choose the building and the developer with care.
A seasonal rental market
Short-term rentals averaged 33.3% occupancy over the year, with the peak from July to September (AirROI).
Politics
In November 2024 Georgia’s government suspended EU accession talks until 2028. Our Georgia today page gives a neutral summary.

NextDistricts & map

Sources

Checked against the sources below in November 2026.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change: confirm your case with a lawyer or accountant in Georgia.

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