Tbilisi
Tbilisi on a budget: cheap food, stays and free sights
Budget travellers can run Tbilisi on about GEL 60–140 (roughly USD 22–52) per person per day: hostel bed, bakery and canteen meals, metro and bus. Spend more only for a private driver day or a boutique guesthouse. Costs rise in summer and around New Year; spring and late autumn are the cheapest comfortable months.
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GuideTbilisi
Key facts
- Backpacker day
- GEL 60–140 (bed GEL 25–50, food GEL 25–40, transport GEL 5–20)
- Mid-range day
- GEL 175–380
- Cheapest monthscheck
- March–May and October–November; July–August and late December are the priciest
- Metro or bus ridecheck
- GEL 1 (check)
- Khachapuri from a bakery
- GEL 3–8
- Khinkali, per piece
- GEL 1–2
- Glass of house wine
- GEL 8–20
- Cash
- Keep lari for marshrutkas, markets and tips; cards work in the city
Top picks
The cheapest Tbilisi day is built from three habits: sleep in a hostel or family guesthouse, eat where locals eat (bakeries, canteens, market halls), and move by metro, bus or on foot. Almost all of the city's best-known sights cost nothing to enter, so the sightseeing line on a budget day is close to zero.
Book a bed near Rustaveli, Marjanishvili or the old town so you can walk between sights and skip taxis. A guesthouse in a residential district such as Vake or Saburtalo is cheaper again, but add GEL 1–2 per metro ride each way.
- Top 3 for a first budget day: hostel bed near the old town, khinkali lunch, metro to a free viewpoint.
- Top 3 money savers: guesthouse breakfast, market picnic, walking the old town instead of a tour.
- Top 3 splurges worth it: a private driver day, a sulphur bath, a good dinner with house wine.
| Pick | Price | Hours | Why it fits a budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | GEL 25–50 per night | 24-hour reception varies (check) | Cheapest bed; kitchens cut food costs |
| Family guesthouse room | GEL 60–130 per night | Check-in usually from 14:00 (check) | Breakfast often included |
| Bakery khachapuri | GEL 3–8 | Morning to evening (check) | Fills you for the price of a coffee |
| Khinkali canteen | GEL 1–2 per piece | Lunch and dinner (check) | Six to eight pieces is a full meal |
| Market hall produce | GEL 5–15 for a day's fruit and cheese | Morning to early evening (check) | Picnic food for free sights |
| Metro or bus | GEL 1 per ride (check) | Roughly 06:00–24:00 (check) | Cross the city for the price of nothing |
| Funicular to Mtatsminda | Check current fare | Day and evening (check) | Cheap viewpoint over the whole city |
| Free walking sights | GEL 0 | Daylight | Old town, bridges and churches cost nothing |
2026 estimate. Verify fares and hours on site; airport transfer is the one ride worth pricing in advance.
Prices and hours
Tbilisi is one of the cheaper capitals in the region, but prices have climbed since 2022, so treat older blog figures as too low. The bands below follow the site's Georgia country page and are a 2026 estimate.
Food is where the savings are largest. A bakery khachapuri or a few khinkali costs less than a takeaway coffee in Western Europe, and market halls sell cheese, fruit and bread cheaply enough to assemble a picnic. Restaurant meals in the old town are the fastest way to blow a budget; move one or two streets back for lower prices.
- Carry small lari notes for marshrutkas and markets.
- Change money at banks or exchange offices, not in the airport hall.
- Cards work in Tbilisi; keep cash for villages and tips.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | GEL 25–50 | Per night, per person |
| Guesthouse or budget hotel room | GEL 60–130 | Per night, double |
| Khachapuri from a bakery | GEL 3–8 | Per piece |
| Khinkali | GEL 1–2 | Per piece |
| Glass of house wine | GEL 8–20 | Per glass |
| Metro or bus ride | GEL 1 (check) | Per ride |
| Backpacker day total | GEL 60–140 | Bed, food, transport, sights, extras |
| Mid-range day total | GEL 175–380 | Guesthouse, restaurants, some taxis |
2026 estimate. Flights, insurance and tours are not included.
How to get around
The metro is the backbone of a cheap day: one line runs under Rustaveli and the old town, and a single ride costs about GEL 1 (check). Buses and marshrutkas fill the gaps at similar prices. Buy a rechargeable transport card at a metro station or tap a contactless bank card where readers accept it (check).
Walking is genuinely useful here. The old town, the bridge, the fortress path and the main avenue sit within a 30–40 minute walk of each other, so a day of free sights needs no transport at all. Taxis are cheap by Western standards but still the fastest way to spend your food budget; agree the price or use an app before getting in.
For day trips, marshrutkas from the main stations are far cheaper than tours. A shared ride to Kazbegi runs about GEL 20–25 (check), and the train to Batumi in second class about GEL 35–60 (check). A private driver day to Kazbegi or Kakheti costs GEL 150–350 and sits on top of the transport line.
- Metro and bus: GEL 1 per ride (check).
- Marshrutka Tbilisi – Kazbegi: GEL 20–25 (check).
- Train Tbilisi – Batumi, 2nd class: GEL 35–60 (check).
- Private driver day: GEL 150–350.
Tips
Eat your main meal at lunch. Many places charge the same at dinner but portions and service are calmer at midday, and canteens near offices and universities are cheapest then. Buy breakfast from a bakery or take the guesthouse breakfast if it is included.
Drink the house wine rather than a bottle from a list, and buy wine from a shop or market for evenings. Tap water is generally not drunk; bottled water is cheap, and many guesthouses have a filter (check).
Free sights carry the day: churches, the old town lanes, the bridge, the riverbank and the fortress walk cost nothing. Paid entries are few and modest, so check current prices at the gate rather than budgeting for them.
Watch the small stuff. Airport exchange rates are poor, unmetered taxis quote high to newcomers, and card surcharges appear in small shops. Read up on common tricks before you arrive.
- Ask your guesthouse to call a taxi or use an app.
- Keep a GEL 20 note aside for emergencies.
- Free walking routes beat paid tours on a tight budget.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How much do I need per day in Tbilisi?
About GEL 60–140 (roughly USD 22–52) per person per day on a backpacker plan: hostel bed GEL 25–50, food GEL 25–40, transport GEL 5–20, sights and extras GEL 5–30. Mid-range runs GEL 175–380. Flights and tours are extra. 2026 estimate.
Where can I eat cheaply in Tbilisi?
Bakeries for khachapuri (GEL 3–8), khinkali canteens (GEL 1–2 per piece), and market halls for cheese, bread and fruit. Lunch is cheaper than dinner at the same places. Old-town restaurants facing the main tourist lanes cost the most.
What are the cheapest months for Tbilisi?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) usually give the best balance of low prices and good weather. July–August and the late-December holidays are the priciest and busiest; winter is cheap but cold. Check current rates before booking.
Is Tbilisi cheap for solo travellers?
Yes, but a private room costs more per person than a dorm. Hostels, canteens and metro keep a solo day near GEL 60–100. Sharing a guesthouse room or a driver day with others lowers the cost further.
Do I need cash in Tbilisi?
Cards work in most Tbilisi shops, hotels and restaurants, but keep lari for marshrutkas, markets, tips and villages. Change money at banks or exchange offices rather than in the airport hall.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialGeorgian National Tourism Administration
- officialTbilisi City Hall
- officialTbilisi Transport Company
- officialNational Bank of Georgia – exchange rates
- secondaryWikivoyage – Tbilisi