Where to exchange USD for Georgian lari in Tbilisi (best rates)?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 20 days ago
TL;DR
Rates vary a lot across the city: airport exchange and Bank of Georgia branches give around 2.6 GEL per USD, while private exchange points in the Old Town or near the riverside mall can offer 2.61-2.62. Bank-run exchange booths (e.g. inside Tbilisi Mall) gave noticeably worse rates than nearby private exchangers.
What the community said
The bank-operated exchange booth inside the riverside mall (Tbilisi Mall) gave a much worse rate - around 2.52 - while private exchangers nearby offered 2.61 per 100 USD.
22 days ago Tbilisi Mall bank exchange: ~2.52
Airport exchange counters in Georgia sometimes have a minimum exchange amount - they may only change sums starting from around 20 USD, not just any small bill.
25 days ago Airport min. exchange: from ~20 USD
The airport rate in Tbilisi wasn't a rip-off: Bank of Georgia exchanged 100 USD at 2.6 GEL. The best rate found in the Old Town was 2.602 - almost no difference, roughly a few dollars per 100 USD exchanged.
37 days ago Airport (Bank of Georgia): 2.6 / Old Town: 2.602