Keeping Your Travel Money Safe in Georgia: Essential Tips

💰 Click here to see Georgia Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: June, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₾2.70

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: ₾80.00 – ₾160.00 ($29.63 – $59.26)

Mid-range: ₾160.00 – ₾380.00 ($59.26 – $140.74)

Comfortable: ₾600.00 – ₾1,000.00 ($222.22 – $370.37)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: ₾20.00 – ₾40.00 ($7.41 – $14.81)

Mid-range hotel: ₾110.00 – ₾220.00 ($40.74 – $81.48)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: ₾20.00 ($7.41)

Mid-range meal: ₾45.00 ($16.67)

Upscale meal: ₾90.00 ($33.33)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: ₾1.00 ($0.37)

Monthly transport pass: ₾40.00 ($14.81)

Georgia’s payment landscape has shifted fast. In 2026, a visitor who lands in Tbilisi expecting to tap their card everywhere will do fine — right up until they try to board a marshrutka to Kutaisi with no cash, or discover that the guesthouse in Mestia doesn’t have a working terminal. The honest reality is that Georgia runs on two parallel systems: a slick, contactless-friendly urban economy and a firmly cash-based rural one. Getting caught between them is the most common money mistake travellers make. This guide covers everything you need to navigate both confidently.

Understanding Georgia’s Currency: The Lari in Practice

The official currency of Georgia is the Georgian Lari, written as GEL and symbolised as ₾. It was introduced in 1995, replacing the transitional coupon currency, and has been the country’s stable monetary unit ever since. One lari divides into 100 tetri.

Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 GEL. Coins cover 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tetri, plus 1 and 2 GEL coins. In practice, the notes you’ll handle most often are 5, 10, and 20 GEL — these are your workhorses for markets, marshrutkas, and street food. The 100 and 200 GEL notes are useful for hotels and larger purchases, but smaller vendors often struggle to make change, so it’s worth breaking large notes at supermarkets like Carrefour or Goodwill whenever you get the chance.

The tactile feel of Georgian banknotes is distinctive — slightly waxy, with bright geometric designs and portraits of Georgian cultural figures. When you first exchange money, spend a few minutes familiarising yourself with the denominations. In dim lighting at a busy market, a 10 GEL and a 20 GEL note can look deceptively similar until you know what to look for.

As of 2026, the GEL has remained relatively stable against major currencies, but exchange rates fluctuate. Always check rates on the day you exchange rather than relying on figures from a week earlier.

Cards vs. Cash: Knowing Where Each Works in 2026

By 2026, contactless card payments have become the default in Georgia’s cities. Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi all have strong infrastructure for Visa and Mastercard, and the vast majority of supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, hotels, pharmacies, and larger shops accept them without hesitation. Tap-to-pay through Apple Pay and Google Pay works wherever a contactless terminal is present, which means your physical card often doesn’t need to leave your pocket at all.

American Express acceptance has grown since 2024 but remains inconsistent — many smaller restaurants and independent shops still don’t support it. Always carry a Visa or Mastercard as your primary card.

Places where cards work reliably in 2026:

• Supermarket chains: Carrefour, Goodwill, Nikora, Smart
• Restaurants and cafes in city centres and tourist areas
• Hotels and larger guesthouses
• Museums and major tourist attractions
• Pharmacies (GPC, Aversi, PSP chains)
• Tbilisi Metro turnstiles and municipal buses
• Petrol stations on main highways

Places where cash in GEL is non-negotiable:

• Marshrutka minibuses — all intercity and most local routes
• Local markets such as Tbilisi’s Dezerter Bazaar
• Street food stalls and small kiosks
• Family-run guesthouses in rural areas and mountain villages
• Street taxis not booked through Bolt or Yandex Go
• Small independent shops outside city centres

The 2024-to-2026 shift has seen more tourist-area businesses install POS terminals, particularly in Kazbegi/Stepantsminda and Sighnaghi. But once you move beyond the tourist core — into Tusheti, Svaneti’s smaller villages, or Racha — cash is the only option that works every time.

Using ATMs Safely: Banks, Fees, and the DCC Trap

Georgia has three main ATM networks that accept foreign cards reliably: TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia, and Liberty Bank. You’ll find their machines in city centres, shopping malls, airports, and most larger towns. TBC and Bank of Georgia ATMs are the most common and the most reliable for foreign cards.

Step-by-step ATM withdrawal:

1. Insert your card. The machine will prompt you in Georgian first — English is always available on the next screen.
2. Enter your PIN, shielding the keypad with your other hand.
3. Select “Withdrawal” or “Cash Withdrawal.”
4. Choose your amount. Pre-set options are usually in round figures; you can also enter a custom amount.
5. When offered Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) — decline it. This is the most important step. If the machine asks whether you want to be charged in your home currency (USD, EUR, GBP etc.) rather than GEL, always choose GEL. DCC rates are set by the ATM operator and are consistently worse than your own bank’s exchange rate. The difference can be 3–5% on every transaction.
6. Confirm the transaction, take your cash, your card, and your receipt.

ATM fees in 2026 (approximate figures for foreign cards):

• TBC Bank: Around 3–5 GEL per withdrawal, or 1–2% of the withdrawn amount — whichever is higher.
• Bank of Georgia: Similar to TBC — approximately 3–5 GEL per transaction.
• Liberty Bank: Often slightly lower, around 2–4 GEL per withdrawal, making it worth seeking out for frequent withdrawals.

Your home bank may also add its own foreign transaction fee on top of these charges. Before you travel, check what your bank charges for international ATM use — some accounts (Wise, Revolut, Charles Schwab in the US) reimburse or waive these fees entirely, which can save meaningful money over a two-week trip.

Typical single-transaction withdrawal limits for foreign cards are 1,000–2,000 GEL. If you need more, withdraw in separate transactions — though each one will incur the base fee.

Security at ATMs: Use machines inside bank branches where possible, or those in well-lit, public spaces. Before inserting your card, gently check the card slot and keypad overlay for anything that feels loose or unusually thick — these are signs of card skimming devices. Never accept unsolicited help from a stranger at an ATM. If the machine behaves strangely or swallows your card, go directly to the bank branch and report it immediately.

Currency Exchange: Getting the Best Rate Without Getting Burned

Georgia has a well-developed network of independent currency exchange offices, known locally as “saxuravi” — though you’ll also see the word “exchange” written in English on the signs, which is how most travellers identify them. These offices are found on high streets, near major hotels, inside shopping centres, and at border crossings.

The key fact: independent exchange offices typically offer better rates than airport exchanges, hotel desks, or banks. The difference isn’t huge on a small transaction, but if you’re exchanging several hundred dollars or euros, it adds up to tens of GEL.

Practical tips for getting a good rate:

• Check multiple offices. Rates vary between offices, sometimes by 0.05–0.10 GEL per unit of currency. On a 500 USD exchange, that difference is 25–50 GEL — significant enough to justify a two-minute walk to the next office.
• Read the board correctly. The “buy” rate (what the office pays you for your foreign currency) is what matters when you’re converting USD or EUR into GEL. Make sure you’re looking at the buy column, not the sell column.
• Regulations tightened since 2024. By 2026, Georgian financial regulations require all legitimate exchange points to clearly display both buy and sell rates on visible boards and to disclose any commission fees upfront. If an office is evasive about its rates or tries to add a commission at the counter that wasn’t on the board, walk away.



• USD and EUR get the best rates. These two currencies are the most traded and attract the tightest spreads. GBP is widely exchanged but at slightly less competitive rates. Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, and other currencies can be exchanged but at noticeably worse rates — you’re often better off converting those currencies to EUR or USD before arriving.
• Banknote condition matters. Torn, heavily creased, or written-on foreign banknotes are routinely refused or accepted at a discounted rate. Old-series USD notes (pre-2006 design) are often rejected. Travel with clean, newer banknotes.
• Count your GEL at the counter, before you step away. Errors happen, and once you’ve walked out the door, disputes become much harder to resolve.

For a general sense of the day’s rate before you leave your accommodation, check tbc.ge or bankofgeorgia.ge — both publish their daily reference rates. Independent offices usually beat these by a small margin.

Tipping in Georgia: What’s Expected and What’s Optional

Tipping customs in Georgia are fairly straightforward, but there’s one source of confusion that catches visitors out repeatedly: the automatic service charge.

In most mid-range and tourist-facing restaurants in 2026, a service charge of 10% is automatically added to the bill. This appears as a separate line item. It is not a tip for your waiter — it is a fee retained by the establishment, sometimes distributed across staff, sometimes used for operational costs. Your server may see very little of it. If you want to show genuine appreciation for good service, leave a small additional cash amount directly with your waiter: 5–10 GEL on a typical meal is appropriate and genuinely appreciated.

In restaurants where no service charge is included — more common in local, non-tourist-facing establishments — a tip of around 10% of the bill is the norm if you’re happy with the service.

Always read your bill carefully before paying. The service charge line can be easy to miss.

Tipping for other services:

• Ride-hailing (Bolt, Yandex Go): You can add a tip through the app after the ride. For street taxis, rounding up to the nearest 5 GEL is standard.
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: 1–5 GEL per service is appropriate.
• Tour guides: For a full-day guided tour, 10–20 GEL per person in the group is a common and fair amount.
• Hairdressers and beauty salons: 5–10 GEL is typical.
• Marshrutka drivers: Tipping is not expected or customary.

Paying for Transport: Metro Cards, Railway Tickets, and Marshrutka Cash

Transport in Georgia covers a wide range of payment experiences, from the fully contactless Tbilisi Metro to the strictly cash-only marshrutka.

Tbilisi Metro and Buses

Since late 2024, Tbilisi’s Metro and municipal bus network have accepted direct contactless bank card payment at turnstiles and validators. You can simply tap your Visa or Mastercard (or your phone via Apple Pay or Google Pay) and board. A single journey costs approximately 1.20–1.50 GEL in 2026.

If you prefer a dedicated travel card, the Metromoney card is available at any Metro station for 2 GEL (the card deposit is refundable). You top it up with cash or card at station kiosks. For travellers staying more than a few days, multi-day passes are available: approximately 3 GEL for one day, 6 GEL for three days, and 12 GEL for seven days of unlimited travel. For short visits, the direct contactless option is usually more convenient.

Georgian Railway (Sakartvelos Rkinigza)

Intercity train tickets — including the Tbilisi–Batumi service and the popular Tbilisi–Kutaisi route — can be booked online at tickets.railway.ge. The website accepts international Visa and Mastercard. Booking online is strongly recommended for the overnight Tbilisi–Batumi sleeper service, particularly in summer, when berths sell out days in advance.

Tickets can also be purchased at station ticket offices using cash or card. The Tbilisi Central Railway Station (Tbilisi Sadguri) has multiple staffed windows and is generally efficient during off-peak hours.

Marshrutka Minibuses

Marshrutkas are the backbone of intercity travel for a huge portion of Georgian journeys, and they operate on cash only — full stop. No ATM at the departure point, no card reader on board. This will not change in 2026. Drivers frequently don’t carry much change, so having exact or near-exact fare in small notes (5 and 10 GEL) is essential.

Approximate 2026 marshrutka fares:

• Tbilisi to Kutaisi: 20–25 GEL
• Tbilisi to Batumi: 30–40 GEL
• Tbilisi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda): 15–20 GEL

Some larger bus terminals are experimenting with cashless ticket purchase windows for specific routes, but payment to the driver directly remains cash only.

2026 Budget Reality: What Things Actually Cost in GEL

Understanding the actual cost of day-to-day life in Georgia helps you plan how much cash to carry and how much to budget overall. Here’s an honest breakdown based on 2026 figures.

Budget traveller (hostel, self-catering, marshrutkas)

• Hostel dorm bed: 35–55 GEL per night
• Khachapuri from a bakery: 5–8 GEL
• Bowl of lobiani or puri from a street stall: 3–5 GEL
• 500ml local beer (Natakhtari, Kazbegi brand) at a shop: 3–4 GEL
• Marshrutka Tbilisi–Batumi: 30–40 GEL
• Daily total (food + transport + entry fees): 80–130 GEL

Mid-range traveller (guesthouse, restaurants, mix of transport)

• Guesthouse double room with breakfast: 120–200 GEL per night
• Sit-down lunch at a local restaurant (two courses, no alcohol): 30–50 GEL per person
• Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with wine: 60–100 GEL per person
• Bolt taxi across central Tbilisi: 8–15 GEL
• Day trip with hired driver: 120–200 GEL
• Daily total (food + transport + activities): 200–350 GEL

Comfortable traveller (boutique hotels, quality restaurants, private transfers)

• Boutique hotel double room in Tbilisi or Sighnaghi: 300–600 GEL per night
• Dinner at a well-regarded restaurant with natural wine: 150–250 GEL per person
• Private driver for the day (Tbilisi–Kazbegi–Tbilisi): 300–450 GEL
• Guided wine tour in Kakheti: 80–150 GEL per person
• Daily total (food + transport + accommodation): 600–1,200 GEL

These figures assume a travelling couple sharing accommodation costs. Solo travellers should expect the per-person daily total to be 20–30% higher due to single-room supplements and private transport costs.

Protecting Your Money on the Road

Georgia is a relatively safe country for travellers, and street crime targeting tourists is uncommon compared to many European cities. That said, basic precautions still apply — and a little preparation prevents the kind of panic that ruins a trip.

Distribute your money and cards. Never keep all your cash, your bank card, and your passport in the same pocket or bag. Split them between a day bag and a secure inner pocket. If one gets lost or stolen, you still have the other.

Use your hotel’s safe. Most hotels and many guesthouses have in-room safes or a front desk safe. Leave your passport copy, backup card, and any cash you don’t need that day locked away. The sense of security is worth the 30 seconds it takes.

Notify your bank before you travel. Banks in 2026 still flag unusual foreign transactions and can freeze your card without warning. A quick message through your banking app or a phone call before departure prevents this. Specify the countries you’ll visit and the travel dates.

Digital wallets add a layer of security. When you pay via Apple Pay or Google Pay, your actual card number is never transmitted to the merchant. If your phone is lost, you can remotely disable Apple Pay from iCloud without cancelling your card. This is a meaningful advantage over carrying a physical card in a busy market.

Link your ride-hailing apps to your card. Using Bolt (bolt.eu) or Yandex Go (go.yandex.com) with a pre-linked card means you don’t need to handle cash for most city taxi trips. The fare is fixed upfront, there’s no negotiation, and there’s no fumbling with notes in the back seat.

Keep emergency numbers accessible offline. Write down — on paper — the international emergency numbers for your bank cards. If your phone dies and your card is stolen, you’ll need these to act fast. Store them somewhere separate from your cards.

Stay alert in crowded spaces. Tbilisi’s Dezerter Bazaar, busy bus stations like Didube, and the cable car queues in Batumi are places where pickpockets occasionally operate. Keep bags zipped and in front of you. It’s not common, but it happens.

The smell of fresh churchkhela and the sound of traders calling out prices in the Dezerter Bazaar is one of Tbilisi’s genuinely vivid experiences — but it’s also a place where keeping your wits about you matters. Enjoy it, just keep one hand on your bag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my contactless card everywhere in Georgia in 2026?

In Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi city centres, contactless cards work reliably at most shops, restaurants, hotels, and even the Metro. Outside urban areas — in mountain villages, on marshrutkas, and at rural markets — cash is still essential. Always carry at least 100–150 GEL in small notes as a backup, regardless of where you’re headed.

Which ATMs are best for foreign cards in Georgia?

TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia are the most widely available and reliable for foreign cards. Liberty Bank often charges slightly lower fees per transaction. All three offer English-language menus. Avoid airport ATMs for large exchanges — their fees and DCC rates are typically less favourable than city-centre machines.

Is it better to bring USD or EUR to exchange in Georgia?

Both USD and EUR consistently attract the best exchange rates in Georgia’s independent exchange offices. Either currency works well. GBP is also accepted widely. If you’re coming from further afield with CAD, AUD, or other currencies, consider converting to EUR before arriving — you’ll get a better overall rate in Georgia.

Do Georgian restaurants automatically add a service charge?

Yes — most tourist-facing restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. This is not a tip for your server; it goes to the establishment. If you want to tip your waiter directly for good service, leave 5–10 GEL in cash on the table. Always check your bill to see whether the charge has already been added before calculating any additional tip.

Is Georgia safe for travelling with cash and cards?

Georgia is generally safe for travellers in terms of petty crime, with lower pickpocketing rates than many European tourist cities. Standard precautions apply: split your cash and cards across separate locations, use hotel safes for valuables, notify your bank of travel plans, and stay alert in crowded markets and bus stations. Digital wallets add extra card security in cities.

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📷 Featured image by Holly Landkammer on Unsplash.