How much money should you take to Batumi? It is the question I get asked most. I live in Batumi, and here I have gathered everything you actually spend money on during a holiday: accommodation, food, groceries, taxis, entertainment, trips, mobile data and the mandatory insurance. Prices are as of late 2026; in the 2027 season they may go up a little.
How much money to take to Batumi: daily budget
A rough estimate per person per day, excluding accommodation and flights (about 2.6 lari to the dollar):
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
| Food | 50–70 lari | 100–150 lari | from 200 lari |
| Transport | 2–5 lari (bus) | 10–20 lari (taxi) | from 30 lari |
| Entertainment | 0–20 lari | 30–60 lari | from 80 lari |
| Total per day | 60–100 lari | 140–230 lari | from 300 lari |
Budget means bakeries, simple canteens and groceries from the supermarket, buses and free walks. Mid-range means cafés during the day, dinner at a restaurant, taxis and a couple of paid attractions. Comfort means restaurants every day, trips and no saving. Accommodation comes on top — prices are below.
Accommodation
Batumi has everything from simple guesthouses to apartments with sea views and big hotels with pools. In summer prices rise noticeably, while off-season the same places can be one and a half to two times cheaper.
A guide for summer 2027 based on Booking (only places rated 8.0 and above), per room or studio for two per night:
- guesthouse — 30–45 $;
- studio or apartment — 40–60 $, more with a sea view;
- 3-star hotel — 60–90 $;
- 4-star hotel — from 100 $;
- 5-star hotel — from 150 $, up to 300 $ and more for well-known brands.
Apartments, like hotels, are easy to find and book on booking.com. In the centre, in Old Batumi, near the boulevard and the sea, accommodation costs more. But the city is small, so to save money you can stay a bit further out.
My lofts with a jacuzzi. If you want more than just a place to sleep, stay with me. These are apartments on the 26th floor with a jacuzzi on the balcony and a stunning view, 200 metres from the beach. Inside there is a rock-shaped bed, a huge painting by a local artist and handmade furniture. Rated 4.84 on Airbnb with 130+ reviews. Details and booking: Apartments for rent in Batumi.
Hotels
Batumi now has plenty of five-star hotels — from Hilton, Sheraton and Radisson Blu to new towers along the coast. A good four-star hotel costs from 100 $ a night in summer, a decent three-star from 60 $, and a well-known five-star on the seafront 150–300 $. Breakfast is included almost everywhere.
Restaurants
You can eat in Batumi on any budget. The main rule: the closer to the boulevard and Europe Square, the more expensive. Prices have gone up a lot in recent years, and even a couple of blocks from the tourist centre a meat dish costs around 30 lari; with a salad and a drink lunch comes to 45–60 lari. Many restaurants add a 10–18% service charge to the bill — then you don’t need to tip.
Approximate prices (restaurant menus, late 2026):
- Adjarian khachapuri at a restaurant — 17–25 lari;
- khinkali — 2–2.5 lari each;
- meat main course (mtsvadi, ojakhuri) — 25–35 lari, salad — 15–20 lari;
- café lunch: main, salad and a drink — 45–60 lari per person;
- dinner for two with wine at a restaurant — from 150 lari;
- penovani (flaky khachapuri) at a bakery — about 5 lari;
- cappuccino — 7–12 lari, depending on the coffee shop;
- wine on tap in a shop — 6–15 lari per litre, but quality is a lottery: good wine is better bought in bottles.
Be sure to try Georgian cuisine, and Adjarian khachapuri right here in Adjara. Where to eat in Batumi: the best cafés in Batumi.
Groceries
Everyone shops at supermarket chains — fruit and vegetable prices there are the same as at the market. Cheaper ones are 2 Nabiji and Nazilbe, and among hypermarkets Carrefour. A bit more expensive are Spar, Nikora, Agrohub and Goodwill.
Fruit, vegetables and herbs grown in the mild subtropical climate are incredibly tasty here. Strawberries, cherries, peaches, figs, grapes, persimmons, feijoa, pomegranates, tangerines — every season brings something new.
In May there are strawberries and medlars, a little later cherries, in June peaches, nectarines and apricots, in July watermelons and melons, in August figs, in September–October grapes, persimmons and feijoa, and in November–December pomegranates and citrus fruit. Local tomatoes and cucumbers appear at the end of April. Herbs are sold all year round: parsley, dill, basil, tarragon, coriander — no Georgian dish goes without them.
Supermarket prices as a guide (late 2026, may rise by the 2027 season):
- bread and shoti from a bakery — from 1.5–2.5 lari;
- milk — 4–6 lari per litre;
- eggs, 10 pcs — 5–6 lari;
- local cheese — 18–28 lari per kg;
- chicken fillet — 18–20 lari per kg, beef — 28–35 lari.
Transport
The city bus is the cheapest way to get around: a ride costs 70 tetri, paid by bank card or with a Batumi Card transport card. A marshrutka (minibus) costs 1 lari. Buses 10 and 10a go to the airport.
Taxis are easiest to order through the Bolt, Yandex Go or Maxim apps — you see the price in advance. A ride around the city usually costs 5–10 lari, from the airport to the centre about 10–20 lari. Street drivers and those at the airport ask for more, so use an app.
A rental car is for those who want to explore the country on their own. It is more convenient and often cheaper than tours: in a couple of days you can visit Petra fortress, the waterfalls, Mtirala and drive up to Sameba. You need a driving licence, a passport and sometimes a deposit. A good choice and clear prices — on Localrent.
Entertainment
A lot in Batumi is free: the boulevard, the Old Town, Piazza and Europe Square, Ali and Nino, the singing fountains. And here is what people spend on most, 2026 prices:
- Argo cable car — 39 lari return, children 5–11 — 9 lari;
- Ferris wheel — 15 lari;
- Alphabet Tower — 20 lari;
- Batumi Botanical Garden — 25 lari;
- dolphinarium — sources give different prices, check at the ticket office.
The city also has clubs, casinos, a water park, boat and yacht trips. All observation decks with prices are in our article Batumi observation decks.
Trips around Batumi
Sunbathing, swimming, night walks along the promenade and restaurants make a good holiday in Batumi. But it is even better to combine the beach with trips around Georgia. Closest to the city are Makhuntseti with its waterfall and Queen Tamar bridge, the protected Mtirala, the Botanical Garden, and the fortress museums of Petra and Gonio. Each trip takes half a day. There are longer trips too, 2 to 6 hours each way, but they are worth it: Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave.
And if you want to spend a night in the mountains of Adjara, see our selection Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia.
Flights
Georgia has three international airports: Batumi, Tbilisi and Kutaisi. In summer direct flights to Batumi are usually more expensive than to Kutaisi, so you can fly into Kutaisi Airport and take a Georgian Bus or Omnibus coach to Batumi — from 25 lari, about 2 hours, timed to flights. Another option is to fly to Trabzon in Turkey and take a bus: about 3–4 hours including the border.
Tickets are cheaper bought in advance and on weekdays — prices are higher at weekends and on holidays. Subscribe to low-cost airline newsletters: deals land straight in your inbox.
Souvenirs
Visiting Georgia and not bringing souvenirs home would be a shame. Shops and stalls are on the boulevard, in the Old Town and at the markets. The most popular inexpensive gifts are spices, adjika, churchkhela, tea and magnets. If your budget allows — wine and chacha, a Svan hat, a wine horn or handmade pottery.
Mandatory travel insurance
Since 1 January 2026 all foreigners entering Georgia need health insurance for the whole stay. The policy must be in English or Georgian, with coverage of at least 30,000 lari. Without insurance you may be refused entry, and if you are checked inside the country the fine is 300 lari. A policy is cheap — get it before your trip.
Mobile data and internet
Buying a SIM card at the airport is poor value: they only sell Magti tourist packages — 15 lari for 5 GB for 15 days or 30 lari for 3 GB with calls. In the city, at an operator’s shop, the SIM itself costs about 10 lari and data packages give you much more for the same money. The operators are Magti, Silknet and Cellfie. Free Wi-Fi is available in almost every café and hotel.
Money: card or cash
In Georgia you pay only in lari. Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted almost everywhere — in shops, cafés and app taxis. Cash is handy at the market, in marshrutkas and small shops. You can withdraw lari from ATMs, and it is better to exchange money at exchange offices in the city than at the airport.
I hope this article helps you plan your Batumi holiday budget. Any questions about prices — ask in the comments and I will answer.
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Hello!
I am Victor, the founder of this site and its main, but not the only author.
Traveler and photographer. Visited more than 60 countries.
Born and raised in Batumi. I love to travel in Georgia.
More about me here.