Georgia operates on the Georgian lari, abbreviated GEL. The currency subdivides into 100 tetri. As of 2024, exchange rates hover between 2.60 and 2.80 lari per United States dollar, with fluctuations dependent on seasonal tourism patterns and regional economic factors. Banks in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi provide currency exchange services typically charging 1-2% commission. The Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank maintain the widest ATM networks, with machines accepting Visa and Mastercard in cities and most tourist centers. Exchange bureaus cluster around Liberty Square in Tbilisi and the coastal promenade in Batumi, offering rates within 3% of bank rates. Rural Svaneti and Tusheti have minimal banking infrastructure, requiring cash planning before departure from regional centers.
Daily expenditure in Georgia varies substantially between Tbilisi and provincial destinations. Budget travelers maintaining hostel accommodation and eating primarily Georgian cuisine can sustain spending between 80-120 GEL daily in Tbilisi. This covers a hostel bed at 25-40 GEL, three meals at neighborhood establishments at 35-55 GEL total, metro and marshrutka transport at 5-10 GEL, and museum or site entry at 10-15 GEL. Mid-range travelers occupying guesthouses and incorporating sit-down restaurant meals typically spend 200-300 GEL daily. Upper-range accommodations in renovated Old Town properties or Black Sea resorts with international restaurant dining push daily costs to 500-800 GEL. Kutaisi runs approximately 20% cheaper than Tbilisi across accommodation and dining categories. Batumi matches Tbilisi pricing during summer months from June through August, then drops 30-40% in shoulder seasons.
Accommodation pricing in Tbilisi spans from 25 GEL dormitory beds in hostels like Fabrika Hostel and Old Town Hostel to 1,200 GEL nightly rates at luxury properties such as Rooms Hotel Tbilisi and Stamba Hotel. Standard guesthouses in residential neighborhoods of Vera and Vake charge 80-150 GEL for doubles with private bath. Booking platforms show availability for modern apartments at 100-180 GEL nightly in Sololaki and Mtatsminda districts. Batumi hotel rates double during peak summer, with basic seaside accommodations starting at 120 GEL in July versus 60 GEL in October. Signagi guesthouses run 60-100 GEL for traditional rooms with balconies overlooking the Alazani Valley. Mestia and Stepantsminda guesthouse pricing holds steady at 70-120 GEL year-round, with family-run establishments including breakfast. Advance booking during August yields better rates in mountain regions where walk-in availability becomes constrained.
Restaurant meals display pronounced price stratification between local and tourist-oriented establishments. Traditional Georgian restaurants serving residents in Tbilisi neighborhoods such as Didube and Station Square charge 12-18 GEL for khachapuri, 18-28 GEL for meat khinkali portions, and 25-40 GEL for mtsvadi plates. Tourist-concentrated areas around Rustaveli Avenue and Shardeni Street mark these same dishes at 18-25 GEL, 28-38 GEL, and 45-70 GEL respectively. Wine by the carafe runs 15-30 GEL for house selections in neighborhood spots, 35-60 GEL in Old Town venues. Upscale restaurants like Shavi Lomi and Barbarestan in Tbilisi charge 40-65 GEL for refined Georgian mains, with full dinners reaching 100-150 GEL per person before wine. Batumi beachfront restaurants price comparably to tourist-zone Tbilisi. Kutaisi maintains lower costs, with satisfying meals available for 20-35 GEL total at establishments near the central market. Bakeries sell khachapuri variants for 3-8 GEL depending on size and type.
Grocery shopping provides substantial savings over restaurant dining. Carrefour, Goodwill, and Fresco supermarket chains operating in major cities price local cheese at 18-30 GEL per kilogram, bread at 2-4 GEL per loaf, seasonal fruits at 3-8 GEL per kilogram, and vegetables at 2-6 GEL per kilogram. Central markets in Tbilisi including Deserters Market and Dry Bridge Market offer comparable pricing with greater variety of local products. Wine bottles from Kakheti producers cost 12-25 GEL for quality table wines at supermarkets, 8-15 GEL when purchased directly from wineries. Imported products carry 40-80% premiums over Georgian equivalents. Municipal markets in Kutaisi, Telavi, and Gori sell produce 20-30% below Tbilisi supermarket rates. Prepared churchkhela sells for 3-5 GEL per strand at markets.
Public transportation in Tbilisi operates on a Metromoney card system costing 2 GEL for the card plus loaded credit. Metro rides cost 1 GEL per journey with unlimited transfers within 90 minutes. Buses charge the same 1 GEL rate. Marshrutkas, the fixed-route minibuses, cost 1 GEL for most city routes, collected in cash. Taxis via Bolt or Yandex apps average 5-8 GEL for trips within central Tbilisi, 12-18 GEL from the center to Tbilisi International Airport. Street-hailed taxis require price negotiation before departure and typically run 50-100% higher than app rates. Batumi operates a similar 1 GEL bus system along coastal and central routes.
Intercity marshrutkas connect major destinations at budget rates but with variable comfort levels. Tbilisi to Batumi marshrutkas depart from Didube Station, charging 25-30 GEL for the five-hour journey. Tbilisi to Kutaisi runs 15-20 GEL over three hours. Mountain destinations cost more per kilometer due to difficult roads and lower passenger volumes: Tbilisi to Stepantsminda marshrutkas charge 15-20 GEL for three hours, Tbilisi to Mestia costs 40-50 GEL for seven to eight hours. Georgian Railway operates trains between Tbilisi and Batumi with second-class seats at 22 GEL and first-class at 36 GEL for overnight service. Tbilisi to Zugdidi daytime trains cost 17 GEL in second class. Advance purchase provides no discount; tickets sell at stations before departure.
Renting vehicles opens access to remote regions but adds substantial cost. International rental companies at Tbilisi airport including Sixt, Europcar, and local operators quote 120-180 GEL daily for compact cars, 180-280 GEL for SUVs suitable for mountain roads. Insurance adds 20-40 GEL daily depending on coverage level. Gasoline costs approximately 3.30 GEL per liter for regular grade as of 2024. Mountain driving to Svaneti, Tusheti, or Kazbegi requires higher-clearance vehicles, pushing rentals toward the upper range. Parking in Tbilisi city center costs 1-2 GEL per hour at metered zones. Highway tolls do not exist. Drivers from most countries can use foreign licenses for up to one year.