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Where and how can you exchange rubles for lari in Georgia?

Exchange offices, rates and why you shouldn't change everything at the airport.

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Short answer

You can exchange rubles for lari at exchange offices and banks in Tbilisi, Batumi and other large cities, with rates displayed by the entrance. It is better to exchange in town rather than at the airport and to compare two or three nearby offices. In small towns and villages rubles may not be accepted.

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Why

  1. Exchange offices in tourist areas handle rubles along with dollars and euros.
  2. The ruble rate depends on the office and is usually less favourable than for dollars and euros.
  3. The rate on the board changes several times a day with the market.

Details

Whether it is better to exchange rubles in Georgia or buy dollars in Russia beforehand depends on the rates on the day: for small sums the difference is usually minor, for large ones it is worth calculating. Count your money at the counter and keep the receipt.

Tip

Don't change everything at the airport: get enough for a taxi and the first day there, and exchange the rest in town.

What may differ

The ruble rate in Georgia moves with the rate in Russia and can differ noticeably between offices in the same area.

Common misconception

You can't exchange rubles in Georgia.

What actually happens

You can, at exchange offices in big cities, although the ruble rate is usually worse than for dollars and euros.

People also ask

  • Where is the best place to exchange money in Georgia?
  • Can I exchange rubles in Georgia?
  • Is it better to exchange money at the airport in Tbilisi?
  • Where can I change rubles to lari?

Sources

The ruble rate changes daily, so check the board before exchanging.

Money and currency in Georgia

  • What banks are there in Georgia, and which should a foreigner choose?

    Georgia's largest banks are TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia, with the most branches and ATMs, good English-language apps and often Russian-speaking support.

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  • Who is pictured on Georgian lari banknotes?

    Lari banknotes feature notable Georgians: scholar Ivane Javakhishvili on 5 lari, poet Akaki Tsereteli on 10, writer Ilia Chavchavadze on 20, Queen Tamar on 50, poet Shota Rustaveli on 100 and Kakutsa Cholokashvili, a hero of the 1920s independence struggle, on 200.

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  • How can a Russian citizen open a bank card in Georgia?

    A Russian citizen can open an account and card at a Georgian bank, but only in person at a branch: you need your international passport, a Georgian phone number and a questionnaire on the account's purpose and your income sources.

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  • How can you send money from Georgia to Russia?

    Money usually goes from Georgia to Russia by bank transfer from a Georgian account to an account at a Russian bank that is not under sanctions, or through money transfer services.

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