Georgia is still one of the most affordable countries to travel in the region. You can eat well, stay in cosy guesthouses and see mountains, the sea and ancient monasteries without spending a fortune. But prices are rising, especially in Tbilisi and Batumi in high season, so it's worth knowing where you can really save and where you shouldn't.
What a day costs
A rough per-person daily budget (excluding flights), in lari:
| Style | Accommodation | Food | Transport | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 30–60 | 30–50 | 5–20 | 70–130 |
| Mid-range | 80–150 | 60–100 | 20–60 | 160–300 |
| Comfort | 200+ | 120+ | 80+ | 400+ |
Prices are indicative and vary by season and city; the regions are cheaper than Tbilisi and Batumi.
Accommodation
- Guesthouses — the best value and atmosphere, often including breakfast and sometimes dinner for a small extra.
- Hostels — plenty in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Mestia; a dorm bed is cheap.
- Apartments — good value for groups and families, especially for longer stays.
- Shoulder season — spring and autumn are cheaper, and Batumi drops dramatically outside summer.
Tip: book guesthouses directly with the hosts — it's sometimes cheaper than booking sites, and you can negotiate for longer stays.
Transport
- Minibuses (marshrutkas) — the cheapest way between towns, e.g. Tbilisi–Kutaisi, Tbilisi–Kazbegi or Tbilisi–Sighnaghi.
- Trains — between Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Batumi; comfortable and cheap, and night trains save a night's accommodation.
- Tbilisi metro and buses — very cheap; get a Metromoney card or pay by bank card.
- Ride-hailing taxis — inexpensive in cities. Street drivers without meters often overcharge, so agree the fare first.
- Shared rides — hostels and guesthouses make it easy to find companions to split a driver for the day.
Tip: car hire pays off for 3–4 people, but factor in the deposit, insurance and fuel.
Food
Food is where you can easily save in Georgia without losing quality.
- Bakeries — khachapuri, lobiani and penovani cost a few lari and make a filling breakfast.
- Khinkali houses — lunch of 5–6 khinkali and a beer is inexpensive.
- Markets — fruit, cheese, bread and herbs at low prices; a market picnic is the best budget lunch.
- House wine in jugs — cheaper than bottles.
- Set lunch menus in some Tbilisi cafés.
Where you overpay: restaurants on the main tourist streets of Old Tbilisi and Batumi's seafront. Walk a couple of blocks away and prices fall noticeably.
Free things to do
- Old Tbilisi — wander streets, balconies and courtyards.
- Monasteries and churches — free almost everywhere.
- Mountain walks — Gergeti, Juta, Truso (excluding paid parks).
- Viewpoints — mostly free if you walk up.
- Beaches — public; a sunbed is optional.
- Free walking tours in Tbilisi and Batumi (tip-based).
Paid sights worth the money
- Prometheus Cave and the Martvili and Okatse canyons.
- The National Museum with Colchian gold.
- Sulfur baths — split a private room with friends.
- A good wine tasting in Kakheti.
Money
- Currency — the Georgian lari (GEL). Cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities, but villages and markets need cash.
- ATMs are plentiful in cities but may be absent in the mountains; withdraw in advance.
- Exchange offices usually beat the airport rate.
- Fees — choose to pay in lari rather than your card's currency to avoid poor conversion.
When it's cheaper
- Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) — good weather, moderate prices.
- Winter — cheap in cities and on the coast, though ski resorts get pricey over the holidays.
- Summer — the most expensive season in Batumi and the mountains.
Mistakes that cost money
- Taxis without an agreed price.
- Changing money at the airport.
- Restaurants in the most touristy spots without priced menus.
- Buying wine and chacha in souvenir shops instead of shops and wineries.
- Separate taxis instead of minibuses or shared transfers.
A sample budget week
- Tbilisi — 3 days: hostel, bakeries, walking, free churches, khinkali in the evening.
- Kazbegi — 2 days: minibus, guesthouse with dinner, walking up to Gergeti.
- Kutaisi — 2 days: train, caves and canyons by shared taxi.
That's about 700–1,000 lari per person for a week, excluding flights, travelling frugally.
In short
Stay in guesthouses, use minibuses and trains, breakfast in bakeries, lunch in khinkali houses, buy fruit at the market and drink house wine from the jug. Georgia stays affordable that way — with no fewer memories than an expensive tour.
