Abasha, Georgia

Capital City

Living costs may be manageable in this small Georgian town, but don't expect modern amenities or career opportunities. With just 4,396 residents, this administrative hub of Abasha Municipality sits 283km west of Tbilisi, perched a mere 23 meters above sea level between the Abasha and Noghela rivers.

The town made Soviet economic history in the 1970s when Eduard Shevardnadze launched the "Abasha experiment" - the USSR's first private enterprise since Lenin. By consolidating agricultural institutions under single management and incentivizing workers with material benefits, this previously impoverished district saw agricultural production soar. The model later spread across Georgia with mixed results. Today, while the town hosts the Georgian Orthodox Eparchy of Chkondidi headquarters, it remains a modest agricultural center without significant industry or tourism infrastructure.