Short answer: Georgia is one of the most affordable destinations in Europe. A budget day in Tbilisi costs ₾50–80 (hostel + khinkali + public transport); a comfortable day runs ₾150–200. Exchange rate 2026: 1 EUR ≈ 3 GEL, 1 USD ≈ 2.7 GEL.
"Timur, how much money should I bring?" — the second most common question I get, right after "Kazbegi or Kakheti?".
The short answer: Georgia is one of the cheapest countries for tourism in Europe. Cheaper than Turkey. Cheaper than the Balkans. Significantly cheaper than you probably expect.
The long answer: it depends on how you travel. Here are three budgets — backpacker, comfort, and "money is no object" — with real 2026 prices.
Exchange rate: GEL to EUR and USD in 2026
1 GEL ≈ €0.30 ≈ $0.37. For easy mental maths: 3 GEL ≈ 1 EUR. The rate fluctuates slightly, but this conversion works for trip planning.
How much does accommodation cost in Georgia?
| Type | Price per night |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | ₾15–25 (€5–8) |
| Guesthouse (private room) | ₾40–80 (€13–27) |
| Airbnb studio apartment | ₾60–120 (€20–40) |
| 3-star hotel | ₾100–200 (€33–67) |
| 4–5 star hotel | ₾200–500 (€67–167) |
| Rooms Hotel Kazbegi (luxury) | ₾400–800 (€133–267) |
Local tip: Guesthouses are the best value for money. Hosts often include breakfast (khachapuri + coffee), give advice, and invite you for a glass of wine. You don't get a room — you get a friend.
My guests frequently ask where to stay in Tbilisi. I always recommend the Sololaki or Mtatsminda neighbourhoods — quiet, authentic, and every major sight is 10–15 minutes on foot. Apartments there run 20–30% cheaper than on Rustaveli Avenue, and the atmosphere is far better.
Where to book: Booking.com works well. Airbnb too. For mountain guesthouses in Kazbegi or Kakheti, it's often cheaper to book directly via WhatsApp — typically 20–30% less than online platforms.
How much does food cost in Georgia?
This is the main reason Georgia is so easy on the wallet. The food is absurdly good for the price.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Khinkali dumpling (per piece) | ₾1–1.5 |
| Imeretian khachapuri | ₾6–8 |
| Adjarian khachapuri (boat-style) | ₾10–14 |
| Full lunch (no wine) | ₾15–25 |
| Dinner for two with wine | ₾60–120 |
| Coffee | ₾4–7 |
| Georgian lemonade | ₾2–4 |
| Beer (0.5 L) | ₾4–7 |
| Bottle of wine (supermarket) | ₾8–30 |
| Bottle of wine (restaurant) | ₾20–60 |
| Lavash flatbread (bakery) | ₾1 |
| Churchkhela (walnut candy) | ₾3–5 |
For comparison: A full lunch in Tbilisi — khinkali, khachapuri, lobiani, lemonade — costs ₾15–25. That's €5–8. In Paris, that gets you a croissant.
Over three years in Tbilisi I've found the places where local guides and taxi drivers eat — lunch there is ₾12–15, and portions are twice the size of tourist restaurants. On every tour I show guests at least one of these spots. They always come back on their own afterward.
How much does transport cost in Georgia?
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Tbilisi metro (single journey) | ₾1 |
| City bus / minibus | ₾0.5–1 |
| Bolt taxi (city ride) | ₾3–8 |
| Marshrutka Tbilisi → Kazbegi | ₾15 |
| Marshrutka Tbilisi → Sighnaghi | ₾8–10 |
| Taxi to/from airport | ₾25–40 |
| Car rental (per day) | ₾100–200 |
| Cable car (Narikala Fortress) | ₾5 |
| Funicular (Mtatsminda) | ₾4 |
Tip: Install Bolt (like Uber). Taxis in Tbilisi are remarkably cheap — a cross-city ride is ₾5–8. Never negotiate with street drivers — use the app. For getting from the airport to the city centre, see the Tbilisi airport transport guide.
One thing I always tell my guests: in Tbilisi's Old Town, everything is walkable. My walking tours run 4–5 hours and cover every major landmark without a single taxi ride. You only need transport for Mtatsminda, Turtle Lake, or the airport.
How much do tours and activities cost in Georgia?
| Activity | Price |
|---|---|
| Kazbegi guided tour (all inclusive) | from ₾175 |
| Kakheti guided tour (all inclusive) | from ₾175 |
| Tbilisi city tour | from ₾135 |
| Sulphur baths (private room) | ₾50–150 |
| Cooking class | ₾50–80 |
| Museum entrance | ₾5–15 |
| Botanical Garden | ₾1 |
| Wine tasting (marani) | ₾0–20 |
| Paragliding in Gudauri | ₾150–200 |
How much money to bring for 7 days in Georgia?
Backpacker: ₾700–1,000 (€210–300)
Hostels, street food and bakeries, marshrutkas, free attractions.
| Category | Per day | 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel | ₾20 | ₾140 |
| Food | ₾30–40 | ₾210–280 |
| Transport | ₾5–10 | ₾35–70 |
| Activities | ₾10–20 | ₾70–140 |
| Total | ₾65–90 | ₾455–630 |
Realistic? Absolutely. Georgia is one of the best backpacking destinations in Europe. Lobiani from a bakery (₾2), free courtyards and fortresses, and a Botanical Garden for ₾1.
Comfort: ₾1,500–2,500 (€450–750)
Guesthouses or Airbnb, local restaurants, Bolt taxis, 1–2 guided tours.
| Category | Per day | 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse / Airbnb | ₾70–100 | ₾490–700 |
| Food | ₾60–90 | ₾420–630 |
| Transport | ₾15–25 | ₾105–175 |
| Activities + tours | ₾40–70 | ₾280–490 |
| Total | ₾185–285 | ₾1,295–1,995 |
This is my recommended tier. You get everything: great food, comfortable accommodation, 1–2 guided tours, and genuine freedom to explore.
Luxury: ₾3,500–6,000 (€1,050–1,800)
4–5 star hotels, fine-dining restaurants, private guided tours every day, spa.
| Category | Per day | 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 star hotel | ₾250–400 | ₾1,750–2,800 |
| Restaurants | ₾100–150 | ₾700–1,050 |
| Transport + tours | ₾100–200 | ₾700–1,400 |
| Spa + entertainment | ₾50–100 | ₾350–700 |
| Total | ₾500–850 | ₾3,500–5,950 |
Even "luxury" in Georgia costs what "comfort" costs in Western Europe. Rooms Hotel Kazbegi — one of the world's best design hotels — starts at ₾400–800. That same budget gets you a three-star room and a vending-machine breakfast in Switzerland.
Daily budget breakdown: all three tiers compared
| Category | Backpacker | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₾15–25 (hostel) | ₾70–100 (guesthouse) | ₾250–400 (4–5★ hotel) |
| Breakfast | ₾5–8 (bakery) | ₾15–20 (cafe) | included in hotel |
| Lunch | ₾10–15 (khinkali) | ₾25–35 (restaurant) | ₾50–80 (fine dining) |
| Dinner | ₾15–20 (local cafe) | ₾40–60 (restaurant + wine) | ₾80–150 (with wine) |
| Transport | ₾3–8 (metro + bus) | ₾15–25 (Bolt) | ₾50–100 (private transfer) |
| Activities | ₾5–15 | ₾30–50 | ₾80–150 |
| Total per day | ₾53–91 | ₾195–290 | ₾510–880 |
What to do in Tbilisi for free
One of Georgia's greatest advantages: an enormous amount of the best things to see and do costs zero lari.
- Walk through Tbilisi Old Town (Kala district) — free
- Botanical Garden — ₾1 (practically free)
- Narikala Fortress — free; cable car up and back is ₾5
- Bridge of Peace and the riverside promenade — free
- Dry Bridge flea market — free to browse, cheap to buy
- Rustaveli Avenue and the gallery arcades — free
- Tsminda Sameba Cathedral — free
- Dezerter Bazaar — free to enter, cheap to eat
- Mtatsminda — funicular ₾4 each way, the panorama is free
- All Orthodox churches — free entry
How to save money in Georgia without sacrificing quality
Tandoor bakeries for breakfast — the cheapest meal in Georgia. Lavash flatbread: ₾1. Lobiani (bread with beans): ₾1.5–2. Hot, fresh, filling. You stay full until lunch for ₾2 — that's a fact.
Eat where locals eat — not on the tourist streets, but in the side alleys. Rule of thumb: if the menu is written only in Georgian (and someone translates for you), prices are 30–40% lower. The best non-tourist spots are concentrated away from Rustaveli and the Old Town main drag.
Dezerter Bazaar for self-catering — perfect for breakfast or a picnic. Vegetables, fruit, cheese, wine — all at wholesale prices. ₾20 fills a bag for two people for a full day.
Buy wine at a supermarket, not a restaurant — restaurants mark wine up 2–3x. A bottle of Saperavi at a Goodwill supermarket costs ₾10–20. The same bottle in a restaurant: ₾40–60. Buy it at the shop and enjoy it on your apartment balcony or by the river.
Khinkali as a main course, not a starter — 10 khinkali (₾15) is a complete meal for one person. You don't need a salad, soup, and main dish as well. Khinkali is all of those at once.
Where to exchange money in Georgia?
- ATMs — best rate. TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia are everywhere. Fees 0–2%.
- Exchange offices — on Leselidze and Rustaveli streets. Good rates, no commissions. Check the rate in advance at nbg.gov.ge (National Bank of Georgia).
- Cards — Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. Exceptions: small cafes, markets, and mountain villages — carry cash for those.
- Cash — always bring some. Card terminals are rare in the mountains.