← Part of the Georgia money guide
Georgiachecked Jul 2026Do I need cash in Georgia, or can I use cards?
Short answer: cards cover most of a city trip, but a little lari is worth carrying, and one habit saves you money at every terminal. Here is how to pay.
At a glance
Currency
Georgian lari (GEL)
Cards
Fine in the cities
Cash for
Marshrutkas, markets
Get lari at
Bank of Georgia, TBC
Cards, mostly. In Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi you can tap a Visa or Mastercard almost everywhere, with contactless and Apple or Google Pay common. Keep some lari for markets, bakeries, small vendors, tips and rural guesthouses, and for the shared marshrutka minibuses, which are cash only. Pull lari from a Bank of Georgia or TBC ATM, and on any terminal or machine choose lari, not dollars or euros.
The cities are card-first
In Georgia's cities, cards work almost everywhere, from restaurants and cafes to shops and taxis, and contactless is the norm. Bank of Georgia and TBC are the big banks. A no-foreign-fee Visa or Mastercard covers most of a trip, with an Amex as a backup at best.
The main exceptions are the local everyday: market stalls, bakeries, small family places, tips, and rural guesthouses that prefer cash.
Where you need lari
Carry small lari notes for the shared marshrutka minibuses that link towns and regions, since they take cash only, and for markets and bakeries. Change for large notes can be scarce outside the cities.
Pull cash from a bank ATM (Bank of Georgia or TBC). Many are low-fee; some standalone machines charge more and push a poor dollar rate, so use a bank machine and take out enough before heading into the mountains.
The one money habit: choose lari
On any card terminal or ATM that asks whether to charge in lari or your home currency, always choose lari. Picking dollars or euros triggers dynamic currency conversion at a poor rate; lari lets your own bank convert, which is cheaper.
For the fuller money picture, tipping and the new insurance rule, see the Georgia money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do I need cash in Georgia?
Not much in the cities, which are card-first, but some is worth carrying. Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi take cards almost everywhere. Keep small lari notes for markets, bakeries, small vendors, tips, rural guesthouses and the shared marshrutka minibuses, which are cash only. Pull lari from a Bank of Georgia or TBC ATM.
Should I pay in lari or dollars in Georgia?
Always lari. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in US dollars or euros, decline. That dynamic currency conversion adds a few percent, and standalone machines can be worse. Choosing lari lets your own bank do the exchange at a better rate. Use a bank ATM rather than a standalone one.
Can I use my card on Georgia's marshrutka minibuses?
No. The shared marshrutka minibuses that link towns and regions take cash only, so keep small lari notes for them. City buses and the Tbilisi metro use a rechargeable card, but for marshrutkas and most rural transport, plan on cash.
Which ATM should I use in Georgia?
A Bank of Georgia or TBC machine, which are everywhere in the cities and dispense lari. Many are low-fee, though some charge a small amount, and standalone machines can push a poor pay-in-dollars rate. Choose lari, decline any dollar conversion, and pull enough before heading into the mountains, where machines are scarce.
More on Georgia
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in GeorgiaGeorgia has a light, emerging tipping culture. It was not traditionally expected, but about 10% is now common in Tbilisi and tourist restaurants. Check the bill for a service charge first. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do US citizens need a visa for Georgia?Short answer: no visa, and you can stay a whole year. The catch for 2026 is new and easy to miss: you now have to carry travel insurance to get in. Here is what you need and how to prove it.
- Taxis and ride apps in GeorgiaGetting around Georgia's cities is cheap and easy once you have the right app. Here is what to install, how to handle a street taxi, and the way locals travel between towns.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- National Bank of Georgiathe official lari exchange rate
Our own readCard acceptance, ATM fees and the cash-only points are our read from recent traveler reports, not a single official table, so treat them as a planning guide. Checked July 2026.