How Much Money Should You Bring To Georgia?

Georgia is a country of contrasts, which becomes quite noticeable when you start planning a trip here. Unique historical sights, delicious food, good wine, and breathtaking views are what awaits you. The country is suitable for any kind of traveler; there are luxurious and affordable accommodation options for you to choose from. Same goes for dining venues and nightlife. However, you need to have a rough idea how much a holiday to Georgia will cost you.

Budget for food

Food is quite cheap here, especially if you go into local markets and buy fresh produce directly from farmers. But if you don’t want to go through that, groceries in supermarkets are still quite affordable compared to many European cities. The budget for dining out depends on how many times you plan on eating in cafes and bars, but an average dinner which might include 2-3 meals and a beverage would range from $10-15 in a restaurant serving traditional food.

Eating in cafes and restaurants that are quite popular among locals or are located in the city center can be a bit expensive – but nothing that should break the bank. And to start your day with delicious breakfasts, check out our breakfast and brunch guide.

Accommodation options here vary and include both luxurious and average hotels, as well as apartments and hostels. While there are a number of unappealing hostels in town, Tbilisi is home to several beautiful hostels you might not want to leave.

Best option not to spend too much on accommodation would be to rent an entire apartment through Airbnb, which will cost you on average a $25-30 per night.

Sightseeing

If you want to minimize your costs and plan to travel here on a low budget, Tbilisi offers plenty of things to do for free, including many historical and cultural sights. Museum lovers will enjoy a holiday here since most of historical venues have a ridiculously low price (on average US$1.25); dozens of places even offer free entry.

Budget for one week

When traveling to Georgia for one week, it’s likely that you will combine visiting the capital with other must-see destinations around the country. Accommodation in those places are cheaper than in Tbilisi, although they can sometimes climb higher, depending on what kind of hotel you choose. Prices for food in the restaurants decreases and are around half price of what you might pay in the capital.

Best way to travel through the country is to rent a car, which will cost you $30 per day. This is the lowest price. The average price for renting a car is $50. However, if you don’t want to drive in a foreign country, there are options to take a train to certain destinations and a minibus to almost everywhere.

For instance, a one-way train ticket from Tbilisi to Kutaisi costs around $4, while a trip to Batumi is around $9 one-way during the off-season.

Budget for two weeks

We have compiled a perfect two-week itinerary to make your travel planning in Georgia a bit easier. If you decide to follow this plan, you can travel to those major cities via train and save some money compared to taking a minibus. However, do note that trains here are a bit slow, with the one going to Batumi being somewhat of an exception. But you can use your time on the slower trains to read a book and learn more about the country, catch up on your work, or even get into a conversation with a local.

When traveling to the Svaneti region to visit Ushguli and Mestia, do note that you might have to hire a taxi from Mestia to Ushguli. Even though there are minibusses going between those towns, their schedule might not be regular and might mess up your plans.

As mentioned above, accommodation and food prices lower as you travel outside of the city, but do note that Mestia won’t be as inexpensive as other towns. It’s a mountainous area and relies heavily on tourism. Also, you might want to know that most of those accommodation options are homestays or guesthouses. So don’t expect super-fancy rooms. Some of those venues even include homemade meals two or three times a day. What a great way to try local cuisine, right? Room price in a guesthouse in Mestia starts from $15 for a single person and $20 for two people.

The seaside city of Batumi might cost you the most if you happen to travel there during summer months. The prices during the peak season skyrocket. The city offers plenty of accommodation options, including international chain hotels, apartments, and hostels. Of course, there are cheap options available but they get booked quite quickly, so be sure to book as soon as you decide to have a trip there. During the summer months, the average price for an entire apartment is around $50-60, while a room price might triple in an international hotel like Radisson or Sheraton.

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