What currency does Georgia use, and what money should you bring?
Lari and tetri, which currency to bring, where to exchange it and paying by card.
Short answer
Georgia's currency is the lari (GEL), divided into 100 tetri, and all payments inside the country are made in lari. US dollars or euros are the easiest to bring and exchange at city exchange offices; rubles can also be exchanged in Tbilisi and Batumi, usually at a worse rate. Visa and Mastercard cards from foreign banks are accepted almost everywhere, but Russian cards do not work.
Why
- The lari is the only legal tender in Georgia, and prices are shown in lari.
- Dollars and euros can be exchanged in any town; buying and selling rates are posted at every exchange office.
- Russian-issued Visa, Mastercard and Mir cards do not work in Georgia because of sanctions.
Details
In cities you can pay by card almost everywhere; cash is needed at markets, on minibuses and in villages. Airport rates are usually worse than in town, so exchange only a small amount there for the journey. The National Bank of Georgia publishes the official rate every day, and exchange offices differ slightly from it.
Tip
Bring newer banknotes without tears or writing: worn dollars and euros are accepted reluctantly or at a worse rate.
What may differ
Tbilisi and Batumi have plenty of exchange offices; in small towns and villages it is harder, so get lari in advance.
Common misconception
You can pay in dollars in Georgia.
What actually happens
No, payments inside the country are made in lari. Dollars must first be exchanged at an exchange office or bank.
People also ask
- What is the currency of Georgia?
- What currency should I take to Georgia?
- Can I use US dollars in Georgia?
- Are cards widely accepted in Georgia?
Sources
The lari rate changes daily; check the National Bank website or the exchange office board for the current figure.
Money and currency in GeorgiaRelated questions
-
How do you receive a transfer from abroad to a Georgian account?
You can receive money from abroad by bank transfer to your IBAN, through a system such as Western Union, or via Visa+ by phone number to a TBC card.
-
What is a Georgian IBAN and where do you find it?
A Georgian IBAN has 22 characters: the country code GE, two check digits, two letters of the bank code and 16 digits of the account identifier assigned by the bank.
-
How can you top up a card or pay a bill at a terminal in Georgia?
Utilities, mobile, internet, television and state services in Georgia are paid at payment terminals: the TBC Pay network has more than 4,000 terminals and over 1,000 services.
-
Where can you exchange damaged or old lari banknotes?
Worn and damaged lari banknotes and coins are replaced free at face value at the National Bank of Georgia and commercial banks if they still meet the fitness criteria.