How much is Georgia's minimum subsistence in 2015?

The cost of living in Georgia is increasing, reflecting the increasing costs of basic food and services.

Latest figures from Geostat, the National Statistics Office of Georgia, noted the country’s minimum subsistence level (amount of money a person needed to support themself) had slightly increased in the first three months of 2015.

Figures showed the minimum subsistence level for an able-bodied male was almost 170 GEL in March 2015. This was about 7 GEL higher than in February 2014, where the minimum subsistence level was 155.4 GEL.

Meanwhile for the average consumer, the minimum subsistence level was 143.4 GEL this March, while it was 137.6 GEL at the same time last year.

For an average family the minimum subsistence level reached 271.6 GEL in March 2015 – up about three percent on March 2014 when the same data was 260.6 GEL.

As for households, the minimum amount of money needed to survive was:

• For a one-person household – 143.4 GEL
• For a two-person household – 229.5 GEL
• For a three-person household – 258.2 GEL
• For a four-person household – 286.9 GEL
• For a five-person household - 322.7 GEL
• For a six or more person household – 381.5 GEL

Statistics showed that in comparison to the past year, these numbers had grown however this could be comparable with increasing costs of basic goods and services.

In March 2015 the monthly inflation rate in Georgia reached 1.2 percent while the annual inflation rate equalled 2.6 percent, stated Geostat.

Similarly, in February this year the monthly inflation rate reached 0.1 percent and the annual inflation rate equalled 1.3 percent.

Information released by Geostat revealed food and non-alcoholic beverages, furnishings and household equipment, and transport were the sectors that were mainly responsible for the inflation rate increase in March.

Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate in March 2015 equalled 2.6 percent.