Living Expenses for Indian MBBS students in Georgia 

The Real Budget Playbook

Landing in Georgia as a MBBS aspirant coming from India? Your academic journey will be exciting and a challenge. Georgia is a great destination, but planning your budget wisely will make a huge difference. Let's create a living-cost plan that is practical, fresh, and based on clarity.

1. Benchmark Overview: What will you really spend?

Students from India who study MBBS in Georgia will typically pay:

• In smaller cities such as Kutaisi and Batumi, you can expect to pay between USD 300 and 600 per month (Rs 26,400-52 800).
• Tbilisi's lifestyle is more urbane and costs USD 400-800/month.

This includes housing, food and transport, as well as study materials, mobile & basic internet, and some light entertainment. Numbeo, a crowd-sourced platform that provides a snapshot of current costs in Georgian cities, is incredibly useful for comparing prices. (See Tbilisi costs on numbeo).

2. Monthly Budget Breakdown - More Nuanced this Time

We'll run three scenarios in INR and USD (for clarity, USD is Rs88).

Scenario A: Focused & Lean (Shared Hostel + Home Cook)

Scenario B - Balanced Comfort (Shared flat + mix of cooking / eating out)

Scenario C: Comfort-Plus (Private Studio, Eating Out, Occasional Travel)

3. Don't miss out on annual and one-time overheads

• Processing visa & residence permits: USD 60-120 (5,280-10,560 Rs).
• Health insurance: USD 80-180/year (~Rs7,040-15,840)--you can compare real-time insurance quotes via sites like InsureMyTrip.
• Flights (round-trips) range from USD 400 to 700 (Rs35.200-61.600), depending on the booking window.
• Initial COVID tests / vaccinations: USD 25-60 (~Rs2,200-5,280).
• Security deposit/refundable fee for hostels: USD 150 to 400 (Rs 13,200-35 200).
• Budgets for beginners often skip these items, but they can be a real source of stress if you don't plan ahead.

4. Cost Variation by City (2025 Snapshot).

Tbilisi

• Rent: Studios in central areas are between USD 300 and 400; the outskirts are cheaper.
• The cheapest food is in the local markets. Dining costs between USD 5 and 8 per meal.
• Metro and buses cost around l1.50 per ride (Rs45). You can also purchase an electric card to get discounted rates for multiple rides. Reference cost charts: Tbilisi Public Transport Rates.
   

Batumi

• Rent is slightly lower (USD 250 to 350 for single rooms). Home cooking can keep costs low, even if coastal cafes are more expensive. Local transport costs between 50-80 tetri (15-25 Rs).
   

Kutaisi

• Rents are the lowest here (USD 200 to 300 for rooms). Food and travel prices are lower in the locality. This is great if you want to save money and don't mind a slower pace. For current hostel rates, check university pages or forums.
   

5. Important Information -- Do Not Just Copy Paste Numbers

1. Always plan using the current USD/INR and lari/INR exchange rates. Wise’s real exchange tracker ( Wise currency tables) is an excellent tool.
2. Shared flats are a good compromise, but they're more expensive. Studios are comfortable but costlier.
3. Ask your university's International Office about student discounts. Many Georgian banks and service providers offer discount cards linked to students.
4. Part-time work limitations--Georgia's visa doesn't typically allow paid work for non-EU students; count on zero income from India and budget accordingly.

6. Monthly Budget Summary (all scenarios combined)

Depending on the city and lifestyle, you can expect a total annual cost of Rs2.5 lakh - Rs7.5 lakh. These estimates are often confirmed by real student forums such as Study in Georgia's or Reddit r/MBBSAbroad.

7. How to reduce your costs in a smart way

• Rent rates are better for early arrivals at shared flats/hostels.
• Splitting bulk items can reduce your monthly grocery bill.
• Find local flyers or apps that offer discounts on essentials and groceries.
• You can buy second-hand textbooks in India from senior citizens or online groups.
• Use university networks to share transport or study groups.
   

8. Currency & Banking - Smart Money Management

• Open a local account. Banks such as TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia provide free debit cards for students.
• Transfer money using services such as Wise and Remitly to get low rates and fees.
• Keep a small USD emergency reserve (USD300) to ensure you are never left stranded in the event that your Lari card does not work or there is a delay.
   

9. Sample Budget for 6 Years (Approximate Cost of MBBS in Georgia).

Assuming an average comfort lifestyle and moderate tuition

• Tuition (2025 est. Tuition (2025 est.): USD 4,500/year, Rs 3.96 lakh/year, Rs 23.76 lakh total
• Living (balanced), USD 422/month = Rs5.06 lakh/year = Rs30.36 lakh in 6 years
• Total cost (including living expenses): Rs 54-55 lakhs for a full MBBS
• The final range with lean/luxury adjustment or scholarships can be between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 65 lakh.

10. Keep your budget in check with these practical tips

• You can get the price list of hostels from the university website or admission portals.
• Track your actual spending vs. planned expenditure for the first three months and refine.
• Instead of roaming, use SIM/data plans for students.
• Join Facebook groups or WhatsApp to connect with other students and find out where you can buy groceries at a reasonable price, who to avoid when renting, etc.
• Add the cost of FMGE/NExT Coaching Test Series (often an extra USD 150-400 per year).
   

Conclusion

Living in Georgia as an MBBS student can be economical and quality-rich--especially compared to Indian metros or other foreign medical destinations. Georgia is a great value with monthly costs that range from Rs21k-Rs61k. Planning ahead, making smart financial decisions, and living smartly are the keys to success, whether you're studying in Tbilisi or Kutaisi.

If you like, I can make this into an interactive budget template that's downloadable (Excel/Google Sheets), or a simple information graphic summarizing costs for each city. Simply say the word.