The average Georgian wage passed GEL 2,380 a month — up 8%, but only a little ahead of prices

The National Statistics Office reported on 15 September that average monthly nominal earnings reached GEL 2,389.3 in the second quarter of 2026, up 8.0% (GEL 177.3) on a year earlier. The best-paid sectors were information and communication at GEL 4,400.4 (+5.4%), finance and insurance at GEL 4,074.1 (+9.2%), construction at GEL 3,496.6 (+0.8%) and professional, scientific and technical activities at GEL 3,304.8 (+10.3%). Women earned GEL 1,927.0 on average and men GEL 2,856.4, and men out-earned women in every sector.

Annual inflation was 5.7% in May and 5.8% in June, according to the National Bank, so the real rise in average pay over the quarter was only a couple of percentage points. Pay in the business sector grew 6.6% to GEL 2,471.5, close to the inflation rate, while the non-business and financial sector saw a 10.6% rise to GEL 2,239.0. Construction wages were almost flat on the year, even though they jumped sharply in July according to Geostat's separate construction cost index.

For a landlord pricing a long-term let to local tenants, household income is the ceiling. With average pay near GEL 2,400 and women's pay under GEL 2,000, a rent quoted in dollars at the level short-let operators or foreign tenants pay will be out of reach for most local households. The highest-paid groups — IT, finance and professional services — are the tenants most able to absorb rises, and Geostat ranks Tbilisi first among regions for average earnings. Outside the capital, where earnings are lower, rents need to be set with local incomes in mind.