Planning a trip and wondering how much Georgia costs in 2026? Since our last trip, I’ve noticed that Georgia is still an affordable destination, but inflation has pushed up the cost of accommodation, transportation, and attractions. My guide reflects what you can actually expect to spend today.
We’ve visited Georgia twice – first using public transport and relying on day tours, then returning for a 2,000-kilometer road trip across the country. So rather than simply listing prices, I’ve put together a practical guide based on firsthand experience, with real costs and money-saving tips.
Article contents
- How much we spent in Georgia?
- Georgian lari, cash and card payments
- Cost of:
- My tips for saving money in Georgia
● accommodation (and hotels we stayed at)
● attractions and things to do
Our Georgia trip budget: How much we spent?
Our Georgia travel budget for 10 days came to approximately $3,200 for two people. The number included international flights, hotels, a rental car, and all day-to-day expenses. Some points that justify the total amount:
✔️ We traveled to Georgia during high tourist season
✔️ We stayed in boutique hotels (a first for us, but the opportunities were too great to pass up!)
✔️ We drove almost 2,000 kilometers across the country, collecting memories along the way
I wouldn’t describe our journey as a humble backpacker trip, but it wasn’t luxury travel either. It definitely fell into the category of comfortable travel budget – private rooms in stylish hotels, a modern rental car with full insurance, restaurant meals, winery visits, and enough flexibility to stop wherever we wanted.
Our Georgia trip expenses at a glance (for two people, 10 days):
- Flights – $950
- Hotels – $950
- Rental car – $432
- Travel insurance* – $30
- Food, fuel, attractions, and activities – $850
Total: approx. $3,200
*Be sure to budget for it beforehand, since travel insurance is mandatory for tourists entering Georgia starting from January 1st, 2026. I explained it in details here.
Once I remove flights and accommodation, our on-the-ground spending worked out to roughly $130 per day for two people. You could easily spend less by using public transport instead of renting a car. Our rental and fuel together added $550 to the overall budget, but they also allowed us to explore the entire country at our own pace.
Average Georgia travel budget in 2026
Even though Georgia has long been heralded as THE dream backpacker destination, the needle has since moved in a pricier direction. But whether you’re backpacking across the Caucasus or planning a lengthy road trip, it’s still easy to enjoy local food, history, and scenery without spending a fortune.
Your budget for Georgia depends almost entirely on your travel style:
- Backpacker budget: $40–$60 per day
Being a budget traveler is perfectly realistic in Georgia. You can stay in a hostel dormitory, enjoy simple Georgian meals (it’s easy to eat well thanks to generous portions and affordable local cuisine options), use public transport in bigger cities and rely on marshrutkas for intercity travel, and visit mostly free and inexpensive locations (monasteries, parks, viewpoints, etc).
- Mid-range traveler: $70–$140 per day
With this limit per day, you can stay in a comfortable hotel, dine at good Georgian restaurants, take taxis as well as buses, and treat yourself to day trips from Tbilisi by rental car. This budget also leaves room for memorable experiences like cooking class or wine tour, or even a private room at the Abanotubani sulfur baths.
- Comfortable road trip budget: $150–$220 per day
If you’re planning a self-drive holiday similar to ours, this road trip budget per day offers excellent value. Expect to stay in a couple boutique hotels, rent a newer car with full insurance, eat at quality restaurants, visit Georgia’s top attractions, and enjoy the freedom of exploring the destinations at your own pace.
Georgian lari, cash and card payments
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The official currency of Georgia is the Georgian lari (abbreviation – GEL, symbol – ₾). Lari is divided into 100 tetri, which are the country’s coins.
The payments are ultimately made in Georgian lari. At the time of writing, 10 lari is worth approximately $4 or €3,5.
What currency to bring to Georgia? The most reasonable option is to bring either US dollars or euros – both are widely accepted at the exchange offices across the country. Plan to exchange a small amount of money (around $50) at the airport, which is just enough to cover your transportation to the hotel or filling up a car. Do not exchange a larger sum right upon arrival – the rates at the airports are not as favorable as they are at offices in the cities.
Cash and card payments. Both cash and card payments are widely accepted in Georgia. In bigger cities like Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi you can go without ever touching cash. Most businesses will also accept Apple Pay and Google Pay.
However, it’s still a good idea to carry some cash on you, just in case. You will often need it for public transport (especially for minibuses, or marshrutkas, as they’re called here), taxis from ride-hailing apps (you can pay by card as well – it’s just my own little card-security concern), rural guesthouses or family-run accommodations, or purchases at farmer markets.
And you absolutely must stock up on cash whenever you’re visiting Georgia’s more remote mountain regions and smaller villages.
Cost of getting to Georgia
One of the major costs of a trip to Georgia is getting here. What should one expect when flying to Georgia? The facts differ in relation to your starting point:
- For European travelers, flights are usually one of the cheapest parts of the trip. Low-cost airlines with plenty of direct flights have made Georgia easily accessible and affordable. If you started the booking process months in advance, you might snag a one-way ticket from Berlin or Rome for as low as $70–$100.
- For North American travelers, the situation is starkly different. Your air fare is bound to be the biggest travel expense of the entire holiday. There are mostly full-service airlines that operate on this route. Typical return fares range between $650 and $1,500.
Our experience: Our cost item of getting to Georgia in August fell somewhere in-between – on Expedia, I found two return tickets for $950, including baggage fees.
Which months offer more reasonable prices on air fare? Shoulder season in Georgia is the way to go to save some cash: April and May, as well as late September and October are the top contenders for the best time to travel here. The most expensive months are July and August – peak tourist season in Georgia; both prices and crowds are out of control here during this period, especially in bigger hubs like Tbilisi and Batumi.
When choosing the arrival airport, there are three options:
- Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) – it is Georgia’s largest and busiest hub; it acts as the main getaway into the country. Pick Tbilisi airport if your visit focuses on the capital, Kazbegi, Kakheti, or Borjomi
- Kutaisi International Airport* (KUT) – the country’s main low-cost airline base that services many Wizz Air routes. It usually has the cheapest fares from Europe, with plenty of direct flights from major cities. Choose it when planning to explore Kutaisi, Svaneti or Batumi
- Batumi International Airport (BUS) – this coastal airfield is your opening into Georgia’s Adjara region. This airport is ideal for travelers planning a beach vacation on Georgia’s Black Sea coast
*If your itinerary centers around Tbilisi, Kazbegi, or Kakheti, then flying into Kutaisi isn’t the most logical decision. Even though it is cheaper, you will then spend at least 3 hours in transit to the capital, while either spending more money on a comfortable ride or getting the “authentic special” of Georgian public transport (marshrutkas are not for the faint-hearted!). Pay the extra $50–$100 to fly directly into Tbilisi, trust me.
Cost of accommodation in Georgia – 2026
One of the best things about traveling in Georgia is seeing how far your budget can stretch here – especially when it comes to paying for accommodation. Whether you’re looking for a bed at a backpacker hostel, a room at a family-run guesthouse, a tailor-made experience at a boutique hotel, or a luxurious stay at a five-star retreat with mountain views, hotel prices in Georgia will certainly surprise you with their affordability.
Of course, it’s all about perspective – by European and North American standards, hotel prices in Georgia are outstandingly low. However, if your holidays have mostly consisted of backpacking across South Asia, you would find that the prices in Georgia hit your wallet a tad harder. Though the general consensus still states that Georgia accommodation prices are very reasonable, you should keep the nuance in mind when planning your travel budget.
The table includes average nightly rate for two people:
| Accommodation type | Tbilisi | Batumi |
| Hostel bed or very basic room | from $10 | from $15 |
| Private guesthouse* or standard apartment | from $20 | from $35 |
| Comfortable 3-star hotel | from $40 | from $70 |
| Good 4-star hotel | from $50 | from $80 |
| Luxury 5-star hotel | from $100 | from $150 |
*It is worth mentioning that Georgia excels at smaller, independently owned accommodation. And even though we heavily relied on hotels the last time we traveled here, we considered a few private guesthouses as valid options as well. You see, family-run guesthouses provide the most authentic Georgian experiences: Homey atmosphere that comes with a lot of family breakfasts and dinners, helpful hosts, traditional architecture and design.
Where should you book accommodation in Georgia?
- Booking.com – a handy tool that has the largest selection of hostels, hotels, apartments, and guesthouses all throughout Georgia
- Trip.com – it often runs great promos and lets you bundle a hotel stay with a flight, which is usually a great deal
The cost of stays in Georgia changes dramatically region to region – the country’s landscapes are not the only things that vary as you drive along. I would characterize the main tourist hubs like this:
Tbilisi is Georgia’s main event.
Crumbling ornate facades of Art Nouveau buildings sit cheek by jowl with austere remnants of brutalist Soviet monuments, only to then be followed by modern glass-and-steel skyscrapers. If the scene does not give you whiplash, it’s because you haven’t yet looked at this mix of styles from afar (or above) – the capital has plenty of viewpoints, cable cars, and hills for just this activity. Tbilisi is not only a cultural hub of Georgia, but it is also a creative, youthful, and energetic center.
Naturally, Tbilisi hotel prices are the highest in Georgia, but the range of choices of stays is also the widest – with such crazy competition, every traveler can find an option that best suits their budget.
Hotels in Tbilisi from $40 a night >>
My pick: 5* Rooms Hotel Tbilisi
Batumi – if you thought Tbilisi gave off major “haphazard” and “eclectic” vibes, you’re in for an awakening!
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This modern seaside city has one of Georgia’s most crazy-looking skylines: Glass towers and luxury hotels crowd the waterfront, but move away a bit and you’ll find yourself among the carefully restored Belle Epoque buildings of the Old Town. Dig even deeper, and you’ll be met with Frankenstein-esque residential structures and rows of commie apartment blocks.
In a way, Batumi is even less harmonious than Tbilisi, but that’s what makes it so intriguing. It’s important: Make the arrangements for your Batumi vacation way in advance, especially if you’re traveling in the summer. And make sure that your hotel offers on-site parking – it will be impossible to find a free spot for your rental car otherwise (I’m not exaggerating).
Hotels in Batumi from $70 a night >>
My pick: 4* Piazza Epigraph
Kutaisi – the thing that stands out most about Kutaisi is its authenticity and the lack of need to impress.
It’s not as visually dramatic as Tbilisi or Batumi – it seems like this third-largest city in Georgia has only recently begun the process of sprucing up to match the tourists’ demand. Kutaisi’s charm lies in the simplicity – everything serves its purpose to the local way of living.
Kutaisi hotel prices continue the “humble” trend – there are plenty of excellent hotels under $100 a night to be found here.
In general, people know Kutaisi as a base for exploring Western Georgia or an overnight stop on your way from Tbilisi to Batumi. However, if you want the real picture of everyday culture and habits, I encourage you to pay Kutaisi more attention – it has not yet made being tourist-forward its entire personality!
Hotels in Kutaisi from $35 a night >>
My pick: 3* Garden Rooms
Borjomi – seems like a much-needed detour for travelers overwhelmed with the rhythm of either Tbilisi or Batumi.
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The unhurried pace is not the only thing that is restorative about Borjomi – much like Baden-Baden or Karlovy Vary, this spa town is all about nature and wellness. A visit to Borjomi Central Park to take a sip of the famous Borjomi water directly from the spring is the main event here; however, a quiet stroll through leafy city streets also offers an instant cortisol-lowering effect.
The natural setting is highly complimented by a slightly faded grandeur of what once was a booming health resort – Borjomi feels like a faded grande dame that is slowly rediscovering her elegance. The more polished central streets here are clad with a mix of restored historic hotels, modern resorts, and family-run guesthouses. However, it is not a surprise to stumble onto a heavily weathered building or a completely forgotten Soviet structure – it all adds to Borjomi’s enchanting atmosphere.
This unique mix of characteristics is only enhanced by competitive pricing on the hospitality sector; it is also worth mentioning that Borjomi doesn’t suffer much from seasonal surges – the reasonable price tag remains steady throughout the entire year.
Hotels in Borjomi from $50 a night >>
Telavi (Kakheti) is yet another town that is not curated for visitors.
This capital of the Kakheti region is more of a getaway into Georgia’s wineries and vineyards than a destination in and of itself. Unlike the smaller and more romantic Sighnaghi (another major stop in the country’s land of wine), Telavi is very straightforward, without the embellishments every tourist craves.
It’s all about convenience: Telavi’s location is prime for exploring the area, and the fewer number of tourists makes it so the accommodation options here stay affordable. However, do not get the idea that Kakheti’s capital is boring and unimaginative – one of my favorite hotels in Georgia (with uniquely-shaped cottages) is set just outside Telavi.
Hotels in Telavi from $35 a night >>
My pick: 3* Hotel Qvevrebi
Where we stayed in Georgia?
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📍Tbilisi
I went all out with the picks for our Tbilisi accommodation – I wanted to experience as much of the capital’s most sought-after stays as humanly possible; which is why we switched three hotels during our short time here:
- 5* Rooms Hotel Tbilisi (from $125 a night) – one of the most stylish hotels in Tbilisi and a sibling of the chic lodge-like getaway near Mount Kazbek. Set in the former publishing house in the center of the bohemian Vera neighborhood, Rooms is just a five-minute walk away from the Rustaveli Metro Station and a 20-minute stroll from the lower station of the Mtatsminda Funicular, which makes it a great base for exploring Tbilisi. The “rooms” at Rooms are the focus – the eye candy factory is working overtime here: Darkened wooden floors, large French-style windows, leather furnishings, vintage decor.
🅿 Complimentary underground parking
- 5* Artizan Design Hotel (from $150 a night) – a fresh addition to Tbilisi’s arsenal of boutique and lavish stays. Located in the same Vera district, this five-star property lets you explore the more contemporary neighborhoods of the capital; you can walk along the elegant Chavchavadze Avenue, all the way to Vake Park – one of the most cherished Tbilisi’s green spaces. Though often compared to Rooms, Artizan is different – sleek, sophisticated, and subtle in its luxurious efforts. The rooms are fit for royals: Large wall mirrors over king-size beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious bathrooms with statement sinks and rainfall showers – you get the idea!
And OKRO Coffee Roastery – one of Tbilisi’s best specialty coffee shops – lets you get caffeinated in style as soon as you wake up and head to the hotel’s ground floor. The second cup of batch brew is on the house, so skipping the hotel breakfast coffee was our trick to enjoying it more. However, we did not skip out on the buffet itself – Artizan breakfast is one of the hotel’s highlights, as it features smoked salmon, hummus, pastries, and even a complimentary glass of champagne!
🅿 Free parking at the on-site garage
- 4* Communal Hotel Plekhanovi (from $115 a night) – one of the most charming accommodations in Tbilisi, this guesthouse-sized (14 total rooms) boutique hotel is a treat for the eyes and the soul! Set inside a townhouse in Chugureti neighborhood, Communal Hotel is perfectly situated for exploring the city’s more alternative side – the lively Fabrika creative hub and the famous Dezerter Bazaar (one of Tbilisi’s most atmospheric food markets) are just a short walk away. At Communal, no two rooms are alike, but they all manage to combine vintage-y feel with contemporary comforts. Parquet floors, curated artworks, radios softly playing jazz, and beautifully tiled bathrooms stocked with locally made Maisi toiletries. One of my favorite details was the sun-filled bathroom – it was a nice contrast to a smaller-sized bedroom, feeling more like a separate room than en suite.
🅿 Paid street parking is available nearby (1 GEL / $0.4 per hour)
Our great Georgian road trip meant stays in 📍other regions that ranged from the most unique adventures (sleeping in a qvevri-shaped cottage is an unforgettable event) to the most boring business hotel-esque shenanigans (beige on beige on beige (derogatory)). The experiences also varied in price:
- 4* Hotel Qvevrebi (Kakheti; from $150 a night) – of all the places we’ve stayed during our travels to more than 55 countries, Hotel Qvevrebi is one of the most memorable, hands down! Nestled among the vineyards, just outside of Telavi, this hotel offers a rare opportunity – you can spend the night inside a giant qvevri! The “real thing” the tiny cottages are made after is a traditional clay vessel that has been used to ferment and age Georgian wine. A private terrace of your qvevri room is facing the endless rows of vineyards that stretch towards the Caucasus Mountains. Hotel Qvevrebi offers “normal” suite options as well, but they are not as exciting.
🅿 Complimentary parking is available on-site
- 4* Rooms Hotel Kazbegi (Stepantsminda; from $200 a night) – if there’s one hotel in Georgia that’s worth planning an entire trip around, it’s Rooms Kazbegi! Perched high above the mountain town of Stepanstminda at the end of the legendary Georgian Military Highway, it’s a destination in its own right. Nearly every corner of the hotel frames the snow-capped Mount Kazbek: The panoramic terrace, the restaurant, the indoor swimming pool – you cannot get away from the granite grandeur! The natural surroundings are the star of the show here, so everything else was created to merely highlight the scenery. Expect to see lots of wood, exposed brick, cognac-colored leather, vintage furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The rooms themselves are pretty understated (my first impression was – unfortunately – that of a standard Hilton room), with spacious layouts and private balconies. Breakfast at Rooms Kazbegi is a standout experience – my standards for hotel breakfast have been permanently raised after this stay!
🅿 Free parking is available on-site
- 3* Garden Rooms (Kutaisi; from $60 a night) – not every stop on your Georgia itinerary needs to be a destination hotel; and after splurging on design icons, this gusthouse in Kutaisi is the perfect reminder that comfortable accommodation in Georgia doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It’s simple yet efficient – rooms feature the amenities that are up to snuff: Working A/C, fast Wi-Fi connection, very comfortable bedding.
🅿 Complimentary on-site parking
- 5* Courtyard by Marriott (Batumi; from $200 a night) – finding a proper hotel in Batumi – not a high-rise apartment pretending to be one – is difficult. Most of them are either in the Old Town, where space is tight and parking is nonexistent (and we really did need parking), or they’re international chains like Hilton and Marriott, with prices to match. In the end, I chose the Marriott. Efficient service, modern amenities, and spick-and-span rooms – all the consistency of a giant hotel chain is there. The indoor swimming pool (with panoramic sea views, no less) made the hotel a place to occupy and not just sleep at. The hotel is located right across the street from Batumi Beach; however, it is a little ways away from Batumi’s busiest tourist area.
🅿 Complimentary on-site underground garage parking is available
- 3* Hotel Chateau Iveri (Varjanisi; from $150 a night) – if the hotels above are all about cities, mountains, or the sea, this one is all about slowing down with a countryside escape. Hotel is surrounded on all sides by forests and rolling vineyards – it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to linger by the outdoor pool, sip a glass of wine on the terrace, and forget about ticking off stops from your itinerary, at least for the time being. The hotel rooms are simple yet spacious, with tall panoramic windows and balconies overlooking the vineyards stealing the focus. The real highlight is, of course, the hotel’s winery – it cultivates indigenous grape varieties including Tsolikouri, Chkhaveri, and the exceptionally rare Satsuri, producing small-batch wines using traditional qvevri method. If you only try one wine here, let it be the elegant red Satsuri – it’s incredibly difficult to find anywhere else in Georgia. If you visit in fall, you might be lucky to catch rtveli – the country’s traditional grape harvest celebration.
🅿 Free parking is available on-site
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Side note: If you want to get a better visual on the hotels listed above, make sure to check out my YouTube video – that way, you’ll get a much clearer picture of what to expect from your stay:
Food prices in Georgia
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One of the biggest reasons people fall in love with Georgia is its traditional cuisine – pleasantly heavy, comforting, and bursting with flavor! Food prices in Georgia, though on a steady rise in recent years, have largely remained affordable. And when you look at the entire picture, you see a situation most countries could never dream of – in Georgia, the focus is both on quantity and quality.
How much does it cost to eat out?
Focusing primarily on Tbilisi’s top restaurants will not be quite the bargain you would hope for, but that’s the beauty of Georgia – trendy cafes sit shoulder to shoulder with homey taverns, the latter offering much better deals on iconic foods. Outside the capital – in places like Telavi, Kazbegi, or Kutaisi – restaurant prices are generally on the lower end, so a foodie road trip might be in the cards.
Based on our own experience of traveling around Georgia, here are realistic food prices you can expect (I’ve divided them in a few categories).
Georgian classics:
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- Khinkali – the price varies depending on the filling, but on average expect to pay 1.3–3 GEL ($0.5–$1.15) per dumpling; there’s usually a minimum order of 5
- Khachapuri – the price ranges depending on the style; usually about 15 GEL to 20 GEL ($5.7–$7.5)
- Shashlik or kebab – around 25 GEL ($9.5); meat dishes are an absolute must-try in Georgia
- Georgian vegetable salad – around 15 GEL ($5.7)
- Churchkhela from a local market – around 3 GEL ($1.15) each
- Pies at outdoor food stalls – 2.5–4.5 GEL ($1–$1.7)
Drinks:
- Glass of Georgian wine – from 7 GEL ($2.7)
- House wine (1 liter) – around 25 GEL ($9.5)
- Cappuccino or flat white at a specialty coffee shop – around 10 GEL ($3.8)
- McDonald’s flat white – around 6 GEL ($2.3)
Meals:
- McDonald’s breakfast (Americano + McMuffin) – 10 GEL ($3.8)
- Dinner for two at a traditional Georgian restaurant – around 40 GEL ($15)
- Dinner for two at a trendy restaurant – around 70 GEL ($27)
With that, I can confidently say that a daily food budget of around 100 GEL ($38) per person is more than comfortable if you plan on eating out for most of your meals.
The numbers are entirely malleable: In Tbilisi, you can grab a bite for as low as 10 GEL / $3.8 per person (coffee and a pastry), or get something more substantial for 35 GEL / $13 (a full-on lunch or dinner). However, if you lean away from traditional Georgian eats and into modern cuisine territory, then a lavish brunch order of Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, followed by coffee and dessert will cost closer to 40 GEL / $15. And we all know how high the dinner bill might get once you start sampling local wines with reckless abandon… The sky is truly the limit!
Here’s a list of places I loved most in Georgia – the ones I’d happily return to in a heartbeat:
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📍 Lolita (Tbilisi) – part restaurant, part cocktail bar, part nightclub, Lolita has become one of Tbilisi’s most talked about social spots. Open daily late into the night (until 2 a.m.), it’s the kind of place where people arrive for brunch and end up staying at for hours. Evening security checks at the door (that’s right!) hint at the threshold of when the restaurant moonlights as a nightclub. Lolita’s menu focuses on New-York style comfort food – there’s little Georgian influence to be found here. Our brunch of a smoothie, a shakshuka, and a burrito came to 67 GEL ($25.5).
📍 Hello Breakfast (Tbilisi) – a perfect breakfast or brunch spot; the cafe is a 5-minute walk from Lolita. They write legends about the cafe’s pancakes (26 GEL / $10 on average) – the tall fluffy stacks are popular with the patrons of all ages and walks of life. We paid 80 GEL ($30.5) for two avo toasts and a stack of pancakes – the portions were so big we could barely walk afterwards! It’s best to arrive at Hello Breakfast right when it opens – although when we showed up on a Tuesday, it was still closed even 15 minutes past the posted opening time. We had to come back another day!
📍 Keto & Kote (Tbilisi) – one of the most elegant restaurants. Set in a historic mansion on a hillside overlooking the city, Keto & Kote exudes old-world charm. There’s nothing casual about chandeliers, polished parquet floors, period-style dining rooms, or a quaint but regal garden terrace. The restaurant’s cuisine focuses on Georgian classics while adding a contemporary touch. Due to sheer opulence, expect to pay more here than at a typical Georgian restaurant – our meal confirmed that this is a place for the experience as much as the food.
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📍 Chokhi Veraze (Tbilisi) – a neighborhood restaurant that’s flown largely under the radar of tourist guides; it’s amazing for a relaxed, unhurried dinner. If you crave Georgian comfort food at excellent value price point, this is the place for you. Our order of a glass of wine and 10 khinkali came to 40 GEL ($15).
📍 Garden Restaurant Pasanauri since 1892 (Georgian Military Highway) – one of the most popular spots for hungry road trippers on a journey along the Georgian Military Highway. The restaurant is more rustic rather than refined, complete with wooden interiors and sturdy furniture. The highlight of the menu is, without a doubt, khinkali. Our generous meal of five huge hand-folded khinkali, a salad, and khachapuri cost 50 GEL ($19).
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📍 Shumi Winery (Kakheti) – one of Kakheti’s winery experiences, which is ideal for first-time visitors who want a well-organized introduction into a world of Georgian wine. You can either go with a simple English-language winery tour (10 GEL / $3.8), or go all out with a guided wine tasting (from 25 GEL / $9.5). With tastings, you can compare wines from the same grape variety, but made with different winemaking techniques – either traditional qvevri or European. The landscaped grounds of the winery are a treat: There’s a working qvevri cellar, a small wine museum, extensive vineyards that are also home to the famous Genesis wine – the world’s oldest fruit-bearing grapevine. When I later saw their wine and chacha at a Duty Free, I stocked up without much hesitation!
📍 Freeduchio (Batumi) – frequently named among Batumi’s best breakfast spots, Freeduchio is where locals and visitors flock to every day before setting off on the exploration of Georgia’s prominent Black Sea resort. Set just a short stroll away from Batumi seafront promenade, the cafe has a bright, contemporary vibe that is supported by the owners with DJ brunches, occasional movie nights, and other fun efforts. Our order of two Israeli breakfasts came out to about 50 GEL ($19).
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📍 Georgian Cuisine Magnolia (Kutaisi) – one of Kutaisi’s most reliable restaurants for classic Imeretian cuisine. It is set in a beautiful historic-style building at the end of the Red Bridge, with views of the roaring Rioni River and the property’s namesake magnolia tree. Our order of 10 khinkali, a khachapuri, and a salad cost us 42 GEL ($16) – mind you, the portions were so generous that we couldn’t finish the meal and took a bunch of leftovers back to our hotel.
Grocery prices in Georgia
Travelers from Central and Eastern Europe may find Georgia’s grocery prices surprisingly familiar; others might still get a kick of a small receipt at the end of the purchase. If you’re wondering how much food costs in Georgia (in terms of ingredients), the answer depends on where you shop:
- Carrefour – the best for picking up everything from snacks to ingredients for an elaborate dinner
- Ori Nabiji and Nikora – ubiquitous grocery chains that focus on everyday neighborhood shopping
- SPAR – super widespread all across Georgia, but more so in bigger cities
- Agrohub – one of the most expensive grocery stores in Georgia; but their in-house farming and production guarantees total freshness of farm-to-table meats, dairy, and produce
If you’re planning to peruse the local supermarkets while traipsing around the country, this list of typical grocery prices in Georgia should help you estimate your daily budget:
| Bottled water | 2 GEL $0.8) |
| Bread (or puri, as it is known here) or lavash | 1.5–3 GEL ($0.6–$1.15) |
| Eggs (10) | 6 GEL ($2.3) |
| Milk (1 L) | 6 GEL ($2.3) |
| Matsoni (also known as Georgian yoghurt; 400 g) | 2.8 GEL ($1) |
| Sulguni cheese (semi-firm brined Georgian cheese; 1 kg) | 25 GEL ($9.5) |
| Chicken (1 kg) | 15 GEL ($5.7) |
| Tomatoes, cucumbers (1 kg) | from 2 GEL ($0.75) |
| Grapes (1 kg) | from 6.5 GEL ($2.5) |
| Watermelon (1 kg) | from 2 GEL ($0.75) |
| Snickers (small bar) | 2.6 GEL ($1) |
| Kindzmarauli wine (Kakheti semi-sweet red wine) | from 23 GEL ($8.75) |
| Borjomi mineral water (1.5 L) | 3 GEL ($1.15) |
| Borjomi lemonade (330 ml can) | 2.85 GEL ($1.1) |
| Coca-Cola (glass bottle) | 2 GEL ($0.75) |
Let’s zero in on the wine – wine prices in Georgia in 2026 (wine AND chacha prices) remain remarkably reasonable. It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying a bottle at the chain store, ordering a glass with dinner, or doing a wine tasting somewhere in Kakheti – you will not empty your wallet trying to reach the old adage of in vino veritas.
Some budget supermarket wine can run as low as 7 GEL ($2.7) when the deals are on, while good-quality bottled wine (the one to bring home as a souvenir) usually costs around 30 GEL to 40 GEL ($11.5–$15). Premium wines start at 50 GEL ($19).
Where to buy wine in Georgia? You have quite a few options:
- Wineries offer the best opportunity to test wine before you buy; check out my guide to best Georgian wineries here
- Large supermarkets like Carrefour usually have a large stock of local Georgian wines and can sometimes run amazing deals on them
- Specialist wine shops like 8000 Vintages are great places to get knowledgeable recommendations
- Tbilisi Duty Free has a good selection of Georgian wine, and it’s so easy to stop here before your flight. We actually did most of our wine shopping here!
Transportation costs in Georgia
Transportation in Georgia is unlikely to become one of the biggest expenses of your trip. Public transport costs peanuts, taxis are affordable, and even longer cross-country journeys won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Public transport
To use public transport in Tbilisi, you might want to purchase a MetroMoney card (you can go without and simply use a contactless bank card to tap in):
— the card itself costs 2 GEL ($0.75)
— a single ride on the metro or bus costs 1 GEL / $0.38 (the fare allows for free transfers within a 90-minute window)
Batumi’s public transport network is simpler. Truth be told, the bus routes here are way more confusing than Tbilisi ones – a first-time visitor will certainly have trouble navigating the city this way. Plus, Batumi buses get very crowded in summer months. Because of all these points, a lot of travelers rely on taxis when exploring Georgia’s major cities – thankfully, the rides here are as affordable as they can be.
Taxi
Even though we rented a car for our latest Georgia journey, we still relied on taxis. After all, such a decision saved us the trouble of having to find a parking spot (a nightmare in Tbilisi and Batumi). Plus, taxi rides here are dirt cheap.
There are two apps Georgia visitors use to hail a taxi here: Bolt Taxi and Yandex Taxi. You can pay for the ride via an app, or choose the cash option – either way is fine.
As for the rough numbers, here are the typical taxi fares you might expect in Georgia:
- A short 10-minute ride in either Tbilisi or Batumi will cost you 5–7 GEL ($1.9–$2.7)
- A ride from the airport to Tbilisi city center will set you back about 25 GEL ($9.5)
Marshrutkas
The iconic marshrutkas (minibuses) are still one of the cheapest ways to travel between cities and towns in Georgia. If you’re trying to keep your transport costs to a minimum, these shared buses will take you to remote places that trains and standard buses cannot reach.
If you’ve never been on a marshrutka ride, get ready – you’re in for an authentic experience! There are a few things to keep in mind:
- These minibuses do not usually follow strict timetables; they depart as soon as all the seats get filled
- You can purchase the ticket directly from the driver, in cash
- The comfort levels on a marshrutka ride are low: Legroom is limited, luggage space is virtually nonexistent, and air conditioning is not guaranteed
- Drivers often make short stops along the routes
Typical 2026 marshrutka fares look like this:
— Tbilisi → Mtskheta – 2 GEL ($0.75)
— Tbilisi → Gori – 5 GEL ($1.9)
— Tbilisi → Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) – 15 GEL ($5.7)
Train from Tbilisi to Batumi
The route between Georgia’s two main destinations is a topic that’s high on the mind of many tourists. I’ve covered all the details in my soon-to-be-published guide to how to get from Tbilisi to Batumi, but the TL;DR version is the train – it is, without a doubt, the easiest and most comfortable way to cross Georgia.
Tbilisi to Batumi train cost starts from 36 GEL ($13.7) for a second-class ticket (first class is 76 GEL / $29, business class is 126 GEL / $48). The train itself is modern (unlike the rest of the rail transport in Georgia) – it’s a Swiss-made double-decker that will take you from the capital to the coast in about 5 hours.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Georgia?
Is it worth renting a car in Georgia? Yes, if you’re exploring the country outside Tbilisi and Batumi – a car gives you access to remote mountain villages, quaint monasteries, lesser known wineries, and plenty of scenic roads that are difficult to reach by public transport.
If you’ve set your sights on a rental for your Georgia adventures, make sure to read my thorough post about renting a here. Still unsure and shopping for ideas? Here’s the classifieds version:
Where to rent a car in Georgia?
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For our last Georgia trip, we chose Localrent – it’s an amazing booking platform that checked a lot of our boxes: It accepted payment in cash and included full coverage, no rental car deposit, and no deductible (excess). The site has the pictures of the exact car you’ll be driving (and not the car class, like other services) and has a ton of handy filters to help you make an informed choice.
While Localrent provides a simpler experience, Discovercars lets you dive in deep into searching for a perfect vehicle for your Georgia trip. You can compare and contrast prices on both websites before committing to a rental.
Car rental costs in Georgia
As for the average prices, here’s what you can expect:
- Older manual cars start at around $25–$30 per day
- Newer automatic crossovers (such as our 3-year-old Toyota C-HR) is about $45 per day
- Larger SUVs usually start at $70 per day
Fuel prices
Fuel cost in Georgia generally remains cheaper than much of Western Europe’s. Expect to pay on average 3.75 GEL ($1.45) per liter of gas and 4 GEL ($1.5) per liter of diesel.
During our 9-day road trip covering much of the country, we spent 390 GEL ($150) on petrol – it was a relatively small part of the overall cost to travel in Georgia.
Parking
Street parking typically costs 1 GEL ($0.38) per hour. If you’re coming to Batumi, it is important to find a hotel that offers on-site parking – otherwise, you’ll be stressed out of your mind driving around trying to find a free street spot.
Side note: Staying connected is very important while driving around Georgia – real-time navigation and traffic updates are key for a more streamlined experience. Magti is considered to be one of the most reliable operators. There are tourists’ welcome packages that cost either 30 GEL / $11.5 (15 days, 3 GB) or 15 GEL / $5.7 (15 days, 5 GB) and unlimited tariffs that vary by their length. We purchased a SIM card in Stepantsminda’s Magti outpost – unlimited mobile internet cost us 40 GEL / $15 for 7 days.
Cost of attractions and things to do
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One of the best things about prices in Georgia in 2026 is that many of the country’s highlights are either inexpensive or completely free. Medieval monasteries, mountain viewpoints, scenic drives, old-time-y fortresses, and charming old towns cost little to nothing to explore. Most of your sightseeing budget will go towards museum tickets, cable car rides, cave cities, botanical gardens, and guided excursions.
Here are the main attractions you might want to include into your itinerary:
- Abanotubani public sulfur baths in Tbilisi – 10 GEL ($3.8) for men, 6 GEL ($2.3) for women
- Narikala Fortress in Tbilisi – free, but cable car from Rike Park is 2.5 GEL ($1) one-way
- Tbilisi Funicular to Mount Mtatsminda – 12 GEL ($4.6) one-way
- National Botanical Garden in Tbilisi – 4 GEL ($1.5)
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA Tbilisi) – 20 GEL ($7.6)
- Landmarks along the Georgian Military Highway – free, with only occasional parking fees of 5–10 GEL ($1.9–$3.8)
- Stalin Museum in Gori – 15 GEL ($5.7)
- Historic monasteries – free to enter
- Uplistsikhe cave city – 15 GEL ($5.7)
- Wine tasting – from 20 GEL to 40 GEL ($7.6–$15)
- Canyons near Kutaisi – 30–40 GEL ($11.5–$15)
- Batumi Botanical Garden – 25 GEL ($9.5)
Price of tours in Georgia
Georgia has no shortage of exciting activities. Though I usually prefer to plan and execute travel agendas on my own, I still ended up booking a small-group walking tour of Tbilisi on our first day – it was one of the highlights of the week. A knowledgeable local guide brings Georgia’s history to life in a way that no ai search can. We even discovered a hidden canyon and a waterfall in the middle of Old Tbilisi!
Here are some of the most popular tours in Georgia that you can choose from:
| ♥ Tbilisi: The 4-hour city highlights walking tour | This tour should cover all the bases and help you get your bearings for exploring it further on your own | From $19 per person |
| ♥ Tbilisi: Khinkali and Khachapuri Georgian cooking class | I love taking a cooking class in a new country because it brings lots of authentic connection and flavor to your itinerary! | From $29 per person |
| ♥ From Tbilisi: Half-day tour to Mtskheta | Mtskheta is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world (!), the former capital of Georgia (!!), and the birthplace of Christianity in the country (!!!). This tour includes a visit to Jvari Monastery and other local iconic attractions | From $23 per person |
| ♥ From Tbilisi: Kakheti wine tour | No visit to the Kakheti wine region would be complete without exploring at least one winery – and this tour includes no fewer than 9 wine tastings! You’ll also visit some of the region’s beautiful monasteries and Sighnaghi, Georgia’s famous City of Love | From $39 per person |
| ♥ From Tbilisi: Georgian Military Highway | If you’re not driving a rental car on the Georgian Military Highway, then a guided tour is your next best choice | From $39 per person (or you can choose a private day tour for $69 per person) |
| ♥ From Tbilisi: Borjomi, Rabati, and Vardzia adventure guided tour | Borjomi has been Georgia’s best-known spa resort for over 150 years. The town is famous for its mineral spring water, elegant (though faded) 19th-century architecture, and a slower pace of living. And Vardzia – a cave city – is a great detour if you already want to visit Borjomi | From $38 per person |
| ♥ From Kutaisi: Canyons and caves full day tour | This one is all the rage with travelers; note that tickets to Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave are not included in the price | From $39 per person |
| ♥ From Batumi: Wine and dine tour to the waterfalls | It is advisable to get outside all the craziness of Batumi’s city center, which is why this tour is an amazing pick | From $40 per person |
Side note: If you’re spending just three or four days in Georgia, then organized tours are your safest bet. However, if your itinerary is a week or longer, renting a car to get to Georgia’s most legendary landmarks starts to look as better value. After two or three day tours, the total costs start approaching the price of a rental car. But at least with your own four wheels, you get the ultimate freedom of movement. With that, a car becomes the more rewarding – and often more economical – choice than a bunch of guided tours.
My tips for saving money in Georgia
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After spending 10 days road-tripping around the country, I came away convinced that Georgia vacation cost is mostly determined by how you travel as opposed to where you go. In fact, Georgia is one of the few destinations where many of the best experiences – mountain views, local cuisine, scenic drives, history-filled strolls through old towns – are either free or very inexpensive.
A little planning goes a long way in Georgia, which is why I’ve rounded up a few more points you should know before you go:
- Cash or card in Georgia?
This is one of the questions that’s often asked – should you bring cash or rely solely on your credit card here? You need both. In larger cities (Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi), cards are accepted almost everywhere. In more rural areas, carrying cash is better.
- Georgia SIM card price & eSIM for Georgia
I’ve already mentioned that Magti is considered to be the most reliable operator in Georgia. However, many travelers would rather purchase an eSIM through international services like Airalo or Yesim. Why? Because this way, you can install a data plan before your flight, so you’re online the moment you land – you won’t have that small window of anxiety when you’re completely cut off.
- Travel insurance is now mandatory
Starting from January 1st, 2026, all tourists entering Georgia are now required to have valid health and accident insurance coverage. It’s no longer a recommendation – it has become a mandatory expense for entering Georgia as a tourist. Thankfully, it’s a relatively small cost compared to your overall travel budget: EKTA provides insurance options that start as low as $1 a day.
- Use taxis in Tbilisi and Batumi
Even if you’re renting a car for your Georgia road trip, I recommend leaving it parked whenever you’re exploring Tbilisi or Batumi. Taxi rides, when booked through ride-hailing apps like Bolt or Yandex, are inexpensive here. Plus, the stress of driving through narrow congested city streets and having to search for parking every time you want to stop is exhausting. Keep your rental for day trips from Tbilisi and the general exploration of Georgia’s most iconic regions.
- Don’t cut corners on your rental car
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If you’re planning a Georgia road trip, avoid booking the cheapest car you can find on Localrent or Discovercars. While it’s true that road conditions have majorly improved here; so much so that you don’t really need a large SUV to access popular destinations anymore, it is still nice to drive a newer vehicle with automatic transmission and decent insurance. Do not be penny-wise and pound-foolish, especially on such an important part of your travel budget as a rental car.
- Buy wine where locals do
Georgia is famous for its wine, and there are many establishments that sell bottles of gvino everywhere you look. In fact, many tourist stalls advertise having “homemade wine” for sale – avoid them and look for your wine fix elsewhere. In a true “monkey see, monkey do” fashion, follow the locals’ lead – purchase directly from wineries, supermarkets, or specialist wine shops. That way, you’ll get consistent quality and fair price.
If you’re flying home, duty-free shops at Tbilisi Airport are an excellent place to buy Georgian wine. They have bottles from most of the country’s major wineries: Shumi, Khareba, Iberiuli, Chelti, Tbilvino – even if you haven’t gotten around to visiting all of them, you can get a taste just as you’re on your way out of Georgia. Buying wine from duty-free shops also saves you a hassle of wrapping glass bottles for the inside of your suitcase – the wine that you purchase here is packed for air travel and can usually be carried onboard.
- What to bring home from Georgia?
Speaking of souvenirs, the things you bring from Georgia are usually either edible or drinkable. In any way, they don’t have to be expensive. One of our favorite purchases was a bag of Svan salt (Georgia’s aromatic regional spice blend), together with a generous supply of churchkhela from Tbilisi’s Dezerter Bazaar. Altogether, we spent around 30 GEL ($11.5) on this bounty.
Other popular souvenirs include tkemali sauce, Georgian tea, ceramics, cheeses (if you’re prepared to transport them), and, of course, Georgian wine and chacha. We bought three bottles of wine and a bottle of chacha in duty free for around 250 GEL ($95).
- So, how much does it cost to travel in Georgia?
Our 10-day road trip for two cost approximately $3,200 in total, including flights, accommodation, a rental car, fuel, food, attractions, and shopping. Excluding flights and hotels, our everyday travel expenses worked out to roughly $130 per day for two people.
Could we have spent less? Absolutely! Skipping the rental car alone would have reduced our budget significantly, but we also would have missed many of Georgia’s most spectacular destinations.
Ultimately, the expenditures depend on your travel style: You could do Georgia on a budget by sticking to beds at hostels and using public transport; alternatively, you could go all out and plan a multi-city road trip that focuses on boutique hotels and trendy eats. Either way, I believe that Georgia has something to offer to everybody, making your travel experience here as unforgettable as it can be!
