Georgetown: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Georgetown is the capital of Guyana on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Demerara River, with about 200,000 people including the suburbs. Since 2019 oil has been produced offshore, and Guyana has posted the world's fastest economic growth for several years running. The city is being rebuilt with hotels, offices, malls, new roads and gated communities. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and a member of the Caribbean Community. The city suits specialists in oil, construction, logistics and finance, and entrepreneurs serving the oil boom.

Districts and housing

• The centre - wooden colonial buildings, Stabroek Market, ministries and banks.
• Queenstown and Lamaha Gardens - green districts with mansions and embassies near the centre.
• Bel Air Park and Prashad Nagar - quiet residential areas popular with foreigners.
• East Coast Demerara - new gated communities and malls east of the city.
• East Bank Demerara - new neighbourhoods along the road to the airport.

Rents for good houses have multiplied, as oil and service companies lease them. Many foreigners live in gated communities with security and a generator.

Cost of living

• Currency - the Guyanese dollar, about 209 to the US dollar in 2026; the rate has barely moved for years.
• Rent - the biggest expense: Western-standard homes are scarce and cost as much as in large US cities.
• Groceries - local rice, fish, vegetables and fruit are affordable; imports are expensive.
• Hotels and restaurants - prices have risen with demand from the oil industry.
• Cars - needed by almost everyone; traffic drives on the left.

A city below sea level

Most of the coast, including Georgetown, lies below sea level at high tide. The city is protected by a seawall along the Atlantic built in colonial times and a network of canals with sluices that release water at low tide. Heavy rain floods the streets, so people choose homes on higher, well-drained plots, and houses often stand on stilts.

Practicalities: climate, language, safety

• Climate. Tropical, about +30 all year, with two rainy seasons: May to August and December to January.
• Language. English is official, and the local Creole is spoken in daily life.
• Flights. The international airport is 40 km south, with direct flights to New York, Miami, Toronto and Trinidad.
• Safety. Street robberies are common, so at night people drive or take a taxi and keep valuables out of sight.
• The border. Venezuela claims the western part of the country, and the dispute is before the International Court of Justice; so far it does not affect life in the capital.

Entry and legal status

• Visits - citizens of many countries enter visa-free, others arrange a visa in advance; the length of stay is set at the border.
• Work - the employer obtains the work permit through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Local content - a 2021 law requires oil companies and their contractors to give Guyanese priority in hiring and procurement, so foreigners are hired for roles without local specialists.
• Your own business - a company is registered with the commercial registry, and most sectors are open to foreigners.
• Residence or citizenship by investment - there are no dedicated programmes.

We handle the work permit, company registration and bank account end to end.

Taxes

Since 1 January 2026 the tax-free allowance is 1.68 million Guyanese dollars a year, about $8,100, or a third of income if that is higher. Income up to 3.36 million Guyanese dollars a year, about $16,100, is taxed at 25%, and above that at 35%. Value added tax is 14%. Foreigners in the oil industry should check in advance whether Guyana has a double tax treaty with their country, as there are few such treaties.

Work and economy

• Oil and gas - offshore production, service bases, supply and logistics.
• Construction - roads, bridges, housing and a gas power plant.
• Agriculture - rice, sugar and fish.
• Gold and bauxite - mining in the interior.
• Services - hotels, restaurants, lawyers and accountants for incoming companies.

Family and healthcare

• Schools - a few international schools with American and British curricula; places fill quickly with the influx of oil industry families.
• Healthcare - private hospitals handle routine cases, complex ones fly to Trinidad, Barbados or Miami, so insurance with evacuation is needed.
• Leisure - Kaieteur Falls, one of the world's highest single-drop waterfalls, an hour away by small plane, plus rainforest, the Rupununi savannahs and rivers.

Is it worth living here

Pros: English, a booming economy with demand for specialists, and unique nature an hour's flight away. Cons: expensive rent, flooding, street crime and limited healthcare. Georgetown suits people coming to work in the oil boom or building a business around it. Write in the chat and we will work out how long the work permit, company registration and family move will take.