Isani District in Tbilisi: Rent, Transport, Infrastructure

Who Isani Suits

Isani is a district in the east of Tbilisi, on the left bank of the Kura, beginning right behind the historic centre. Its main trump card is the ratio of distance to price: Isani metro is about 10 minutes from the centre by metro, yet rents are lower than in the central districts.

The district suits:

• people who want to live near the centre without paying central prices;
• people who love old Tbilisi — Avlabari with its lanes, Sameba Cathedral and views of the Old Town — but do not want the tourist crowds of Sololaki;
• anyone who needs the metro on their doorstep: two stations on a direct line;
• anyone looking for a new build not far from the centre — there are more of them here every year.

Isani will not suit people looking for manicured green blocks or uniform housing: it is a district of contrasts, where old houses stand next to new ones and shopping streets next to quiet courtyards. If you need the whole district to look equally respectable, look at Vake.

A separate plus for people who like to walk: Sameba Cathedral offers one of the best views over the city, and the grounds around it are spacious and good for an evening stroll.

Transport and Time to the Centre

• Metro. Avlabari and Isani stations are on the same line as Liberty Square and Rustaveli. From Avlabari the centre is a couple of stops away; from Isani, about 10 minutes. This is one of the best time-to-price ratios in the city.
• On foot. From Avlabari you can walk across the bridge to the Old Town and Abanotubani — in the evening it is a pleasant route, not a forced march.
• Buses. Routes run through the district towards the centre and further east to Samgori.
• Taxi. The centre is close, but at peak hours the streets around Avlabari and along the river are congested.

The airport is also in the east of the city, beyond Samgori, so the trip there from Isani is usually shorter than from western districts such as Vake or Saburtalo.

There is a difference within the district: the blocks near Avlabari metro are closer to the centre and dearer; those near Isani metro and further east are further out and more affordable. At the viewing, walk the route to the station yourself rather than trusting the “five minutes to the metro” in the listing.

Housing: Older Stock and New Builds

Older stock

Avlabari is one of the city’s old quarters: low-rise houses, courtyards, narrow streets, and Sameba Cathedral on the hill above. Flats here often have unusual layouts, sometimes balconies and views, but also the typical downsides of older stock: ageing utilities, no lifts, parking in the courtyard or nowhere. Further east, around Isani metro and the market, there are more Soviet buildings — five- and nine-storey blocks with standard layouts, usually already renovated. Avlabari has many houses with shared courtyards and neighbours who have lived there for decades: that is atmosphere, but also less privacy than in a new build.

Heating, as almost everywhere in Tbilisi, is individual — a gas boiler or air conditioners. In old buildings pay attention to windows and insulation: your winter gas bills depend on them.

New builds

The number of new buildings in Isani is growing — both around Avlabari and closer to Isani metro. These are new builds with lifts, parking and often a service fee on top of the rent; some flats are let unfurnished or partly furnished. A new build in Isani is one of the few ways to rent a new flat ten minutes from the centre for less than in Vake or Vera. The downside is the same as for all new builds: construction may still be going on next door.

Prices Relative to the City

Listings show Isani as noticeably cheaper than the central districts — Vake, Vera, Sololaki, Mtatsminda — with comparable proximity to them. Within the district Avlabari is usually dearer than the eastern part. Compared with the residential districts of Gldani and Nadzaladevi, Isani is generally more expensive — here you pay for being close to the centre.

Exact prices depend on the season, the building and the renovation — rely on current listings on Bina. As in other districts, flats with a view, near the metro and in new builds cost more; older stock deep inside the blocks is cheaper and leaves room to negotiate. Seasonality is the usual Tbilisi pattern: demand is higher in summer and over the holidays, while in the off-season the choice is wider and prices easier to negotiate.

Terms are standard for Georgia: the deposit is usually one month’s rent, the first month is paid in advance, utilities are paid on top of rent by meter, and heating bills are noticeably higher in winter. There is no commission when you deal directly with the owner.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• About 10 minutes to the centre by metro, two stations.
• Prices below the centre.
• Walking distance to the Old Town from Avlabari.
• Sameba Cathedral, old quarters, city views.
• Market, shops and everyday infrastructure close at hand.
• A growing number of new builds not far from the centre.

Cons

• Contrasting housing: a run-down building may stand next to a well-kept one.
• Older stock needs attention to utilities and insulation.
• Congested streets at peak hours.
• Less greenery and fewer parks than in Vake.
• The eastern part is further from the centre and plainer in character.

What to Compare It With

• Samgori — the next district east on the same metro line: more new builds, cheaper, but further from the centre.
• Chugureti — also the left bank, also close to the centre and cheaper than it; more historic houses and cafés on Aghmashenebeli Avenue.
• Krtsanisi — across the river, by the Old Town; quieter, but with no metro.
• Didube — also cheaper than the centre, but at the other end of the metro line, with the bus terminal and the Digomi new builds.

If you are torn between Isani and Chugureti, decide by atmosphere and the specific flat: both districts are close to the centre and cheaper than it.

If being ten minutes from the centre without overpaying matters to you, Isani is one of the first places to search. If you want cheaper new builds and proximity to the centre is not critical, look at Samgori.

Browse current listings in Isani.