Daily costs per person in GEL (Georgian Lari). Tbilisi is extraordinarily cheap — world-class food, wine, and culture at a fraction of Western European prices.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: GEL (Georgian Lari) (1 USD ≈ 2.70 GEL)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 25–60 GEL | 100–200 GEL | 350+ GEL | Hostels → guesthouses → boutique hotels |
| Food | 20–40 GEL | 50–90 GEL | 150+ GEL | Street food & bakeries → restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | 2–8 GEL | 15–30 GEL | 60+ GEL | Metro & marshrutka → Bolt taxi → day trip transfers |
| Activities | 5–20 GEL | 30–60 GEL | 100+ GEL | Free walks & churches → museums & baths → cooking class & tours |
| Drinks | 10–20 GEL | 25–50 GEL | 80+ GEL | House wine & beer → wine bars → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | 62–148 GEL | 220–430 GEL | 740+ GEL | $23–55 → $81–159 → $274+ |
Money-saving tips
Incredible value
Tbilisi is one of Europe's cheapest cities. A full restaurant meal costs 15–25 GEL (€5–9), a glass of wine 8–12 GEL, and khinkali are 1–1.50 GEL per dumpling. You can eat like royalty on €15/day.
Marshrutka travel
Marshrutkas (minibuses) cost 0.50–1 GEL within the city and 1–5 GEL to nearby destinations. Mtskheta is just 1 GEL. Buy a Metromoney card (2 GEL) for metro and buses.
Free walking tours
Multiple free (tips-based) walking tours run daily from Liberty Square — they're excellent and cover the old town, Abanotubani, and Sololaki. Budget 20–30 GEL as a generous tip.
Cheap wine
Georgia is one of the world's oldest wine-producing countries. A glass of excellent natural wine costs 8–15 GEL at wine bars. Supermarket bottles of quality wine cost 8–15 GEL.
Sulphur bath deals
Shared public baths cost just 5 GEL. Private rooms start at 30 GEL. Chreli Abano has the best value private rooms. Evening slots are more atmospheric than daytime.
Street food
Lobiani (bean bread) from a tone oven: 2–3 GEL. Churchkhela: 2–3 GEL. Khachapuri slice from a bakery: 2–4 GEL. Shotis puri bread: 1 GEL. You can eat well for under 15 GEL/day.
