Georgian Lari (GEL): Money, Cards, and Costs in Georgia

Georgia's official currency is the Georgian lari, abbreviated GEL and written with the symbol ₾. The name comes from an old Georgian word for "hoard" or "property," and the lari has been in use since 1995, when it replaced the interim coupon that circulated in the difficult early years after independence. One lari divides into 100 tetri, with banknotes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 GEL, and coins in 1 and 2 lari alongside various tetri denominations. (Note that "Georgia" here means the country in the South Caucasus, not the US state.)

Should I use cash or card in Georgia?

Mostly card in the cities, cash in the countryside. Georgia is more card-friendly than many visitors from Western Europe expect: in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and most shops, and contactless via Apple Pay and Google Pay works reliably in most established city venues. For most travelers a card is the primary payment method across the urban parts of a trip.

Cash still matters in specific situations. Rural areas — the villages of Kakheti, the highland regions of Svaneti and Kazbegi, smaller towns through Imereti and Samtskhe-Javakheti — frequently operate on a cash-only basis, as do local bakeries, roadside food stops, market vendors, and many smaller guesthouses outside the main cities. Some taxi drivers, particularly outside the cities, prefer cash. A reasonable approach is to keep 50 to 100 GEL in cash at all times, and more when heading into less developed regions.

One practical tip that saves money: when a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency rather than in GEL, always choose GEL. Picking your home currency triggers dynamic currency conversion, which applies a poor exchange rate and makes the transaction more expensive.

ATMs and exchanging money

ATMs are widely available throughout Tbilisi and the major cities and reasonably easy to find in most regional centers. Currency exchange offices operate across the country — in city centers, at transport hubs, and in tourist areas — and generally offer better rates than airport exchange desks, which are best used only for the minimum you need on arrival. Euros and US dollars are the most straightforward currencies to exchange, accepted at virtually all exchange offices at competitive rates; other currencies may be exchangeable in Tbilisi but are harder to convert elsewhere.

Is Georgia expensive? Typical prices

Georgia offers genuine value for money across most categories of travel spending, and visitors from Western Europe consistently find food, accommodation, and local transport cheaper than at home. The figures below are indicative and move with season and demand, so treat them as a guide rather than fixed prices.

For everyday items, a coffee is typically 5 to 8 GEL, a bottle of water 1 to 2 GEL, and a local beer 4 to 8 GEL depending on the venue. A budget meal at a simple local restaurant runs 10 to 20 GEL, a mid-range meal 25 to 50 GEL per person, and high-end dining 60 to 120 GEL or more. Georgian food is widely considered exceptional value — the quality relative to the cost is one of the more commonly noted aspects of travel here.

For transport, a Bolt ride within Tbilisi costs 5 to 15 GEL depending on distance and time of day, an airport transfer 30 to 50 GEL, and a private driver for a full day of touring — the most practical way to reach regional sites without public transport — typically 150 to 300 GEL depending on distance and itinerary.

Accommodation ranges from 50 to 100 GEL per night for budget options, 120 to 250 GEL for comfortable mid-range hotels and guesthouses, and 300 GEL and above for luxury properties. Prices are higher in Tbilisi and Batumi than in regional cities and rural areas, and the peak summer season pushes prices up at the most popular destinations.

What is the GEL exchange rate?

The lari fluctuates against major currencies, but as a rough working reference in 2026, 1 euro is approximately 3 GEL and 1 US dollar is approximately 2.7 GEL. The simplest mental shortcut is to divide a GEL price by 3 for a rough euro equivalent — a 30 GEL restaurant bill is about 10 euros, a 150 GEL guesthouse about 50 euros. This is accurate enough for quick, everyday estimates, but the rate moves, so check a current source before you travel and before changing larger sums.

Do you tip in Georgia?

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory or expected the way it is in some destinations. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving around 10 percent is generous and appropriate for good service — though check first whether a service charge is already included, as some city restaurants now add one. Tipping drivers, guides, and guesthouse staff is welcomed but entirely at your discretion. In traditional Georgian family guesthouses, where hospitality often blurs the line between commercial service and personal welcome, following the hosts' cues is more useful than applying a fixed percentage.