Is cash still widely used?
It depends where you are. Tbilisi has excellent card acceptance — supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and most shops take Visa and Mastercard without issue. Outside the capital, in smaller towns, mountain villages, and rural areas, cash is essential.
Markets, marshrutkas (minibuses), and street vendors across the country are cash-only.
ATMs and withdrawing cash
ATMs are plentiful in Tbilisi and available in most towns. TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia ATMs are the most reliable and widespread.
- Fees are around 5 GEL per withdrawal for foreign cards
- ATMs dispense lari; some also dispense USD and EUR
- Availability in mountain regions like Svaneti and Tusheti is very limited
Card acceptance
Good in Tbilisi and Batumi. Visa and Mastercard work at most restaurants, hotels, and shops. In smaller cities and rural areas, cash is preferred or required.
Tips for travelers
- Georgia is very affordable — having lari in cash makes daily spending easier
- Marshrutkas (the main intercity transport) are always cash-only
- Tip in cash — card tipping is not common
- The lari is a stable currency and easy to exchange from USD or EUR