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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
The fare has to be agreed upon before the journey begins and so tips are not necessary for any mode of transport.
Yes. Georgia is a great destination to flex your haggling muscles. This goes for rooms and almost anything you find in a bazaar or market.
Costa Rica allows you to bring in 400 cigarettes (or 50 cigars, or 500g tobacco), 5L of alcohol, a personal supply of perfume and goods up to the value of $500. You will not be allowed to bring in any food items. Upon leaving Costa Rica, you are not allowed to bring back any flora or fauna or any cultural, handcrafted art such as Aztec, Incan or Mayan artefacts – this is highly illegal.
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