Open Travel Guide
Budget travel in Georgia

Georgia Travel Budget 2026

What Georgia really costs per day — tiered budgets, category breakdowns, and where the money goes.

Georgia is a captivating country in the Caucasus region where ancient traditions meet stunning mountain landscapes and world-class wine culture. From the charming cobblestone streets of Tbilisi to the dramatic peaks of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia offers extraordinary hospitality, unique cuisine, and eight millennia of winemaking heritage.

Local currency: Georgian Lari (GEL).

Daily budget by traveller style

Typical per-person daily spend in Georgia.

Backpacker $30-50
Mid-range $60-100
Luxury $200-400+
Family of 4 $200-400

Cost breakdown

Typical price ranges across major spending categories.

Accommodation

Hostel
10-15 GEL ($4-6) dorm bed
Budget
35-60 GEL ($13-22) private room
Midrange
100-200 GEL ($37-75) comfortable hotel
Luxury
350-700 GEL ($130-260) 5-star hotel

Food

Street
3-8 GEL ($1-3) khinkali, lobiani, or khachapuri
Local
15-30 GEL ($6-11) full meal at Georgian restaurant
Midrange
40-80 GEL ($15-30) sit-down restaurant with wine
Fine
150-300 GEL ($55-110) fine dining per person

Transport

Bus
1 GEL metro/bus in Tbilisi
Taxi
5-15 GEL city taxi via Bolt
Airport
20-60 GEL Bolt/taxi from Tbilisi airport
Daytrip
10-50 GEL marshrutka to Mtskheta/Kazbegi

Activities

Museum
5-15 GEL national museums
Sites
Free to 10 GEL most historical sites
Tour
30-80 GEL organized day tours
Excursion
60-150 GEL wine tours or mountain day trips

Trip budgets by length

What a typical trip to Georgia costs end-to-end.

Budget

Budget traveller

70-150 GEL ($25-55)/day

Midrange

Midrange traveller

200-400 GEL ($75-150)/day

Luxury

Luxury traveller

600-1200 GEL ($220-450)/day

Money-saving tips

Practical ways to stretch your budget further.

Save

Buy a MetroMoney card (0.50 GEL) for Tbilisi metro and buses at just 1 GEL per ride instead of cash fares

Save

Eat khinkali, khachapuri, and lobiani at neighborhood Georgian restaurants rather than tourist-area spots - same quality at half the price

Save

Use Bolt or Yandex Go for all taxis - street taxis near tourist sites routinely overcharge visitors by 3-5x

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Take marshrutkas (shared minibuses) for intercity travel - Tbilisi to Mtskheta is just 1 GEL vs 20 GEL for a taxi

Save

Visit free attractions including Narikala Fortress, Old Town streets, Rike Park, and Botanical Garden to keep activity costs low

Save

Buy wine directly from family wineries in Kakheti where quality bottles cost 8-20 GEL vs 30-80 GEL in Tbilisi restaurants

Free things to do

Memorable experiences that cost nothing.

Free

Narikala Fortress

Hike up to the ancient fortress overlooking Old Tbilisi for panoramic views of the city, Mtkvari River, and surrounding hills. Free to enter the fortress ruins anytime.

Free

Tbilisi Old Town Walking

Explore the atmospheric cobblestone streets, colorful balconies, and hidden courtyards of Old Tbilisi on your own. The area around Abanotubani and Betlemi is beautiful and completely free to wander.

Free

Bridge of Peace and Rike Park

The modern pedestrian bridge and riverside park are free public spaces perfect for walking, photography, and watching the Old Town reflected in the Kura River at sunset.

Free

Mtskheta Visit (excluding transport)

UNESCO World Heritage ancient capital with free entry to the historic city, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, and Jvari Monastery. Only transport to get there costs money.

Free

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Beautiful gardens below Narikala Fortress with gorge views, waterfalls, and diverse plant collections. Free or minimal entry fee, perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

Free

Dry Bridge Flea Market Browsing

Browse Soviet memorabilia, antiques, and Georgian art at the famous Dry Bridge market without any obligation to buy. A fascinating living museum of Georgian history.

Free

Borjomi Mineral Springs

Free to drink the world-famous Borjomi mineral water directly from public springs in the Borjomi park. Fill your bottle with naturally carbonated mineral water at no cost.

Hidden costs to watch for

Charges that catch travellers by surprise.

Heads up

Sulfur bath entrance fees (15-80 GEL) often forgotten when budgeting for Tbilisi

Heads up

Cable car to Narikala (2.50 GEL return) small but worth noting

Heads up

Mountain taxi to Gergeti Trinity Church from Kazbegi (60-80 GEL return for 4WD)

Heads up

SIM card for data (20-25 GEL for 10GB) - excellent value but an initial cost

Heads up

Mountain rescue insurance if hiking in Kazbegi or Svaneti - essential and often forgotten