Cost of travel in Georgia

Many people who travel to Europe, stay in the west which isn’t too easy on the wallet. However, much of Eastern Europe has still been left untouched by mass tourism and remains relatively cheap - Georgia is no exception. It is the perfect destination for someone looking to go off the beaten track, visit some incredible places and still stay within a minimal budget. A holiday to georgia is fantastic value for money. That said, as with anywhere on the globe, depending on how much luxury you want to infuse into your holiday, the cost can be variable. Do you like to end your days with a three-course meal and a bottle of wine in a swanky restaurant? Or do you prefer eating at local establishments and trying the delicious street food?

The currency in Georgia is Lari (GEL). Excluding accommodation, the average daily budget for visiting Georgia is 46 GEL ($16).

Food & Drink
The food in Georgia is by our opinion, highly underrated. It’s wholesome, tasty and completely indulgent. But best of all, it is really affordable. A standard dinner will come in at around 15 GEL ($5.13), while an expensive restaurant will cost around 60 GEL ($20.51). A bottle of beer will set you back a measly 2 - 3 GEL ($0.68 - $1.03). A glass of house wine will cost around 5 - 8 GEL ($1.71 - $2.74). Although food is cheap in most of Georgia, be prepared to spend a little more in the capital, Tbilisi.
Transport
Travelling around Georgia doesn’t tend to be a huge expense. If you’re on a budget, stick to using the mini buses (marshrutkas) - they travel almost everywhere in the country. Getting a taxi within in a city, will cost around 5 - 10 GEL ($1.71 - $3.42) and marshrutkas cost between 0.50 GEL - 2 GEL ($0.17 - $0.68). Train prices vary greatly depending on where you’re going, but the average cost is 10 GEL ($3.42) for a 2.5 hour journey.

Top Tip!

Keep some smaller denominations of notes in a separate place so you are always ready for tips and small fares.

Admission Fees
Georgia has an incredible selection of monasteries, museums and attractions to visit and skipping these would almost certainly leave a gap in your experience of the Georgian culture. We suggest budgeting for around 3 - 5 GEL ($1.03 - $1.71) for visiting attractions in Georgia. E.g Visiting the caves of Uplistsikhe will cost 3 GEL ($1.03).

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Tipping etiquette and costs

Tipping is not entirely necessary or expected in Georgia as the bill will usually include a 10% service charge. However if you felt that the service was particularly good, tips will be happily received.

Restaurants

In most mid-range to high-end restaurants a service charge is included so there is no need to tip. Budget restaurants often don’t include a service charge, so you can either round the cost up or add on a couple of GEL.
Guides
If the guide has been helpful and you enjoyed your experience you can tip if you like - around 5 - 10 GEL ($1.71 - $3.42) per person.

Transport
The fare has to be agreed upon before the journey begins and so tips are not necessary for any mode of transport.

Top Tip!

Whilst Georgia still remains largely untouched by mass tourism, interest is quickly growing. If you want to take advantage of how affordable a trip to Georgia is, we suggest you go soon before prices start to rise!

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