Money in Tbilisi: ATMs, Cards, Cash & Fees

Sorting out money in Georgia is the one bit of trip-planning that quietly costs travellers the most — not through big scams, but through small, avoidable leaks: a bad airport exchange rate, an ATM screen that tricks you into a 6% surcharge, or pulling out cash from the wrong bank. Tbilisi is a modern, card-friendly city, but a marshrutka driver in the mountains or a stallholder at the Dezerter Bazaar still wants lari in hand.

This is a practical guide to the currency, ATMs, cards, exchange offices and tipping — with the specific fees and banks that matter as of mid-2026. Read the DCC section carefully; it’s the single most common way visitors overpay without realising it.

Key facts at a glance

Currency: Georgian lari (₾, GEL). As of July 2026, roughly 1 USD ≈ 2.6₾ and 1 EUR ≈ 3.0₾ — always check the current rate before you travel.
Fee-free ATMs: Basis Bank, Liberty Bank, Cartu Bank and Halyk Bank typically charge 0₾ on the ATM side.
Fee-charging ATMs: Bank of Georgia ≈ 3₾ per withdrawal, TBC Bank ≈ 5₾.
Per-transaction limits: roughly 1,000–2,000₾ depending on the bank and machine.
The golden rule: always choose to be charged in lari, never in your home currency. Declining DCC saves 5–8%.
Cards: widely accepted across Tbilisi. Carry ~100–200₾ cash for markets, marshrutkas and small towns.
Tipping: not obligatory; 10% in restaurants is generous, rounding up elsewhere is normal.

The currency: Georgian lari (₾)

Georgia’s currency is the lari (symbol ₾, code GEL), in use since 1995. Banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200₾; the lari divides into 100 tetri, with 1 and 2₾ coins plus smaller tetri coins. It is a stable currency but not one you can buy easily outside Georgia, so you’ll be converting once you arrive.

For a rough sense of value, as of July 2026 one US dollar bought about 2.6₾ and one euro about 3.0₾ (per the National Bank of Georgia). Rates move, so treat any figure you read online as a ballpark and confirm the live rate before exchanging. As a mental shortcut, a price in lari is a little under half its value in dollars.

Is Tbilisi cash or card?

Both — but Tbilisi leans strongly card. In the city, contactless payment is the norm: restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies, Bolt taxis and even many small shops take Visa and Mastercard without blinking. You can genuinely spend days in central Tbilisi barely touching cash.

Cash still rules in a few predictable places, so keep a small float of 100–200₾ on you:

Markets and bazaars — the Dezerter Bazaar, Dry Bridge flea market and produce stalls are cash-only.
Marshrutkas (minibuses) — you pay the driver in cash, ideally small notes.
Small towns and villages — outside Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi, card acceptance thins out fast, especially on day trips.
Tips, public toilets and small kiosks — coins and small notes are handy.

If you’re heading into the mountains — see our getting around Tbilisi guide — withdraw enough cash before you leave, because rural ATMs are sparse and occasionally out of service.

ATMs: which banks, what fees, what limits

ATMs (locally, “bankomati”) are everywhere in Tbilisi — inside bank branches, in malls, outside pharmacies and at metro stations. The catch is that fees vary sharply by which bank owns the machine, so it pays to be picky. Based on traveller reports collected in 2025–2026, here’s how the main networks compare on the ATM-side fee (this is separate from anything your own bank charges):

Fee-free ATMs (use these)

Basis Bank — typically 0₾ fee, limit around 2,000₾. Widely reported as the cheapest, though machines are concentrated in Tbilisi and larger towns.
Liberty Bank — often 0₾ for foreign cards, limit around 1,500₾. State-owned with the widest rural network, so it’s your friend in small towns.
Cartu Bank — around 0₾, limit up to 2,000₾.
Halyk Bank — around 0₾, limit around 1,000₾.

ATMs that charge a fee

Bank of Georgia — around 3₾ per withdrawal, limit up to 2,000₾. Very reliable, English interface, everywhere.
TBC Bank — around 5₾ per withdrawal, limit around 1,500₾. Also dependable with an English menu.

The practical strategy: use Basis or Liberty to dodge the fee, but don’t stress if you can only find a Bank of Georgia or TBC machine — a 3–5₾ fee (about 1–2 dollars) is trivial compared to the mistakes below. Because per-transaction limits are modest, withdraw a larger amount in one go to spread that flat fee, rather than making several small pulls. Fees and limits change, so confirm on the screen before you commit.

The DCC trap: always choose lari

This is the most important line in this article. When you withdraw at an ATM or pay by card, the machine will often ask whether you’d like to be charged in your home currency (dollars, euros, pounds) instead of lari. It looks helpful — it even shows you the amount in your own money. Decline it. Always choose to be charged in Georgian lari.

This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). When you accept it, the local machine — not your bank — sets the exchange rate, and it bakes in a markup that is typically 5–8% worse than your own bank’s rate. Say “yes” to your home currency and you quietly lose that margin on every transaction. Say “no” / “continue in lari / GEL” and your own bank does the conversion at a far fairer rate. The same rule applies at card terminals in shops and restaurants: if a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in lari.

Currency exchange: offices vs the airport

Don’t change serious money at the airport. Tbilisi airport exchange counters run rates that are commonly 5–10% worse than exchange offices in the city. If you land needing cash, change only a small amount to get into town, or — better — just use an ATM in the arrivals hall (choosing lari, of course). See our Tbilisi airport to city center guide for the transfer options.

In the city itself, exchange offices are plentiful, especially around Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square and Marjanishvili. A few habits:

Compare the posted rate — offices display buy/sell rates; a couple of doors down can be meaningfully better.
Confirm there’s no commission before handing over money; the headline rate should be what you get.
Count your cash before leaving the window.
USD and EUR get the best rates; other currencies get worse spreads, so many travellers find it simpler to just withdraw lari from a fee-free ATM.

Using Wise and Revolut

Wise and Revolut both work well in Georgia, for card payments and ATM withdrawals alike. Their appeal is the near-mid-market exchange rate with low fees, which sidesteps most of the currency-conversion loss above. A Wise or Revolut card is arguably the single best money tool for a Georgia trip: tap to pay across Tbilisi, and withdraw lari when you need cash.

Two caveats. First, the DCC rule still applies — even with Wise/Revolut, if the ATM or terminal asks, choose lari, not your home currency, so your provider handles the conversion. Second, check your provider’s monthly fee-free ATM allowance; beyond it, Revolut in particular adds a small percentage fee. Carrying a backup Visa/Mastercard is wise in case one card is declined.

Tipping norms in Georgia

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory, and it’s more modest than in the US. Some guidance:

Restaurants: around 10% for good service. Check the bill first — many tourist-facing venues in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kakheti already add a service charge (often 10%), in which case an extra tip isn’t expected.
Cafés: round up or leave the small change.
Taxis / Bolt: not expected; rounding up is a nice gesture.
Tour guides: roughly 10–20₾ per person for a good day.

Tip in lari where you can. And a cultural note: if a Georgian host cooks for you at home, never offer cash — a small gift is the graceful thing.

Scams and money mistakes to avoid

Georgia is refreshingly low on money scams, but a handful of things catch tourists out:

Saying “yes” to DCC — the biggest and most common self-inflicted loss (see above).
Unlicensed taxi overcharging — street taxis, especially near the airport and stations, may quote inflated fares. Use the Bolt app for a fixed, fair price instead.
Airport exchange counters — poor rates dressed up as convenience.
Rare ATM skimming — use machines attached to bank branches rather than standalone units in dim corners, and shield your PIN.
Not counting change / rate confusion at busy exchange windows.

Frequently asked questions

Should I bring cash or rely on cards in Tbilisi?

Rely mostly on cards in the city — Tbilisi is very card-friendly — but always carry 100–200₾ in cash for markets, marshrutkas, tips and small towns. A card-plus-small-cash-reserve approach is the sweet spot.

Which ATM in Georgia has the lowest fees?

Basis Bank ATMs typically charge no ATM-side fee and offer a high limit, followed by Liberty, Cartu and Halyk. Bank of Georgia (≈3₾) and TBC (≈5₾) do charge, but they’re reliable and everywhere. Whichever you use, always choose to be charged in lari.

Do Wise and Revolut work in Georgia?

Yes — both work for payments and ATM withdrawals and give near mid-market rates. Just decline any DCC prompt so your provider does the conversion, and mind your monthly fee-free withdrawal allowance.

Is it better to exchange money or use an ATM?

For USD or EUR, a good city exchange office with no commission is competitive. For everything else, a fee-free ATM withdrawal (in lari) is usually simpler and cheaper. Avoid airport exchange counters entirely.

Get the money side sorted and the rest of your trip gets a lot smoother. For the bigger picture, start with our full Tbilisi travel guide, plan your transport with getting around Tbilisi, and browse more practical advice in our Travel Tips section.

Last checked: July 2026 — details like prices and schedules change; verify before you travel.