Batumi — the rising all-season coast

International recognition

Batumi's World Travel Awards recognition helps the city stay visible to international visitors and developers. It is useful context, not investment proof. For a buyer, the harder questions remain the same: which district has real demand outside the peak months, which building has professional management, and what happens if supply grows faster than rent.

Yield, price growth and transaction volume

According to Recov, Batumi recorded 1,324 apartment transactions in May 2026, up 2.5% year-on-year. Monthly market value reached USD 87 million (+22.2%), and the weighted average new-build price was USD 1,323 per m² (+8.7%). Foreign buyers represented 49% of transactions and 59% of annual growth. The market is active but uneven: new-project transactions rose 3.3%, old-project transactions fell 7.3%, secondary activity rose 13.4%, and primary activity declined 8.5%.

According to TBC Capital, Batumi’s average Q1 2026 price was USD 1,433 per m² (+8% YoY), across 3,880 transactions (+15%). Its 2026 outlook expects stable market growth: sales +7.1%, prices +5.6%, with rent correction continuing. The May Recov figure covers a different period and uses a different methodology. Both sources show direction, but their prices are not directly interchangeable.

Galt & Taggart tracks long-term rental yield compression from 8.8% in 2024 to 7.4% in 2025. Short-term rental can still work, but not as a category-level promise. The calculation has to include occupancy outside peak months, cleaning, platform fees, management, maintenance, taxes, and the operator contract.

Supply pipeline — read this carefully

Galt & Taggart’s 2025 review reports that unsold units in developer projects rose about 14% to roughly 12,400. A further 58,000 units are expected in 2025–2029. About 80% target short-term rental, and in some districts investment units account for 96% of new stock. Where supply grows fastest, pressure on rental yield will continue. Choosing the right building, floor and operator matters more than simply buying in Batumi.

Tax needs a separate check

A Georgian resident may be able to use the 1% small-business regime for short-term rental if annual turnover stays below GEL 500,000. The 5% residential-rental regime and tax on a later sale depend on the property’s legal status and how it is used. A favourable tax regime does not remove vacancy, operator or resale risk.