Georgetown - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Spacious common rooms, very small bathrooms and bedrooms. Two living rooms seems to be the norm. Small yard with a lot of brick around the house...basically, it's a brick yard. Housing however, is very expensive and limited. Read on for more about the economy and oil industry issues. - Apr 2024
My house is about 1800 sq ft on two levels, 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Most houses have the bedrooms upstairs in case of flooding. I also have a wall, guard shack, and guard bathroom outside. My commute time is about 25-30 minutes to and from work. Traffic seems to have gotten worse over time. - Jun 2022
Huge houses, commute times are far better than DC for most, side roads have lots of speed bumps and potholes but main roads aren't too bad if you can handle the minibus drivers (i.e., let them handle you). - Aug 2021
Housing is mission-provided and is very comfortable. We have a yard with fruit trees, so it's been great to have access to fresh coconuts, guavas, limes and mangoes. Everywhere in the capital area is about 15 minutes away. There are two airports: the main international airport is located 1 hour away (CJIA) and the smaller airport (OGL) is only a short drive away. This makes it great for planning quick getaways domestically or to Barbados. - Sep 2020
Embassy homes are scattered among a few (comparatively) high-end neighborhoods. Larger families are sometimes assigned to houses father east of the heart of the city. Housing is generally nice, though many houses have unusual architecture. Houses closer to downtown (e.g., Lamaha Gardens) don’t have big yards, but are close to other families and GIA; whereas the houses along the coastal highway have good-sized yards with grass, but are more isolated from other Embassy families. Georgetown is a VERY small city, however, so commute times to work or school are rarely more than 15-20 minutes regardless of where you live. - Aug 2019
Embassy housing, better than average. Architecture can be odd but spacious. Most kitchens are very nice. Some houses have yards. - Sep 2016
Houses are sizeable and within 15 minutes of downtown. Most houses have large family areas but feature odd layouts. Construction quality is not always the best but they are safe and comfortable. Once you get accustomed to Guyanese layouts and the odd features and lack of measured construction in your undoubtedly unique house, they are quite cozy and most people enjoy their houses. You will have a larger home than you would in most places. - Apr 2014
The vast majority of housing is two-story. One should be aware of areas that are prone to flooding and try to avoid housing in those areas. Commuting, as with any city, varies significantly depending on the time of day. Leaving early in the morning or late in the afternoon, one can get to or from the U.S. Embassy/Grand Coastal Hotel in about 15 minutes max. Leaving during the high drive-time periods will easily double that time, if not more. - Nov 2013
Housing varies, and mold and insects tend to be present in this tropical climate. Commute times vary depending on housing location, averaging between 10 and 15 minutes. - May 2012
Housing varies here. Some floor plans look very similar to the US, while others are built on stilts to avoid the flooding that occurs during rainy season. Yards tend to be on the small side, with only a few places having enough grass to use a lawn mower. Most housing is within a 20-minute drive to the Embassy. - Mar 2012
The East Coast is becoming more popular as large mansions are being built there. There is expat housing in a number of neighborhoods and they're okay. There is housing closer to the city center which is also nice, though not in a compound or closed neighborhood. The nicest neighborhood is Bel Air Springs and it flooded during this past rainy season. Other areas like Lamaha Gardens are a bit higher and no flooding occurs. The US Embassy provides 24x7 guards that are stationed WITHIN your gates. They have the keys to let you out of your home, so you sometimes feel like a prisoner, but we have never experienced any security issues. - Feb 2012
I am with the US State Department, and our houses are beautiful and large. The housing could not be more comfortable, in my opinion. - Feb 2010
