You’re standing in a small bakery in Tbilisi, the smell of fresh khachapuri hitting you like a warm hug. You reach into your pocket, pull out a crisp, colorful banknote, and realize you have no idea if you’re overpaying or getting a steal. It’s a common moment for anyone landing in the Caucasus. Honestly, the relationship between georgian money to usd is way more interesting than just a flickering number on a digital exchange board.
Right now, as we move through January 2026, the Georgian Lari (GEL) is holding its own. The mid-market rate is hovering around 0.37 USD per 1 Lari. To flip that around for the math-averse, $1 is worth about 2.70 GEL. But if you’ve spent any time tracking currencies, you know that "stability" in this part of the world is a relative term.
The Lari hasn't always been this steady. It’s a currency born out of chaos, replacing the hyper-inflated "kuponi" back in 1995. Today, it’s a symbol of a country that’s desperately trying to bridge the gap between its Soviet past and a European future.
The Lari’s Surprising Resilience in 2026
If you looked at the charts from late 2025, you might have expected a dip. Instead, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) has been playing a very tight game. Governor Natia Turnava recently laid out the 2026-2028 roadmap, and the big takeaway is a laser focus on a 3% inflation target.
They aren't just crossing their fingers. The NBG has been actively hoarding gold and foreign reserves to keep the Lari from swinging wildly every time there's a headline about regional geopolitics.
Why does this matter for your wallet? Basically, it means your georgian money to usd conversions aren't going to fluctuate by 10% overnight while you’re mid-flight.
Growth in Georgia is projected to hit about 2.2% this year. That’s a bit of a slowdown from the post-pandemic boom, but it’s "healthy" slow. There’s a massive influx of investment in data centers and AI infrastructure—Georgia is actually leading the region in this—which keeps the demand for Lari high. When big tech firms need to pay local engineers and electricity bills, they buy GEL. That demand supports the exchange rate.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Exchanging Money
You’ll see exchange booths everywhere. From the airport arrivals hall to tiny windows in the side of a concrete building in Batumi.
Don't use the airport. It’s a classic trap. You’ll lose 5-8% on the spread alone.
Instead, look for the "Currency Exchange" signs in the city centers. Places like the booths near Liberty Square in Tbilisi often offer rates that are shockingly close to the mid-market rate. Some of these spots have spreads so thin you wonder how they even keep the lights on.
Denominations to Watch For
The Lari comes in some pretty beautiful notes, but a few are rarer than others:
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- 5, 10, 20 Lari: These are your workhorses. You’ll use them for everything.
- 100 Lari: Feature the poet Shota Rustaveli. They’re common, but small shops might struggle to break them for a single coffee.
- 200 Lari: These are the "unicorns." They exist, but many locals rarely see them. If you have one, save it for a big dinner or a hotel bill.
- Tetri: These are the coins. 100 tetri equals 1 lari.
Something kinda weird? The 1 and 2 tetri coins are basically obsolete. Most shops just round the price to the nearest 5 tetri now. If you find a 1 tetri coin, keep it as a souvenir; it's worth more as a piece of metal than as currency.
The "Larization" Trend
There’s a word you’ll hear in Georgian business circles: Larization. For years, Georgians preferred to keep their savings in USD because they didn't trust their own money. Can you blame them?
But the government has been pushing hard to change that. Nowadays, about 76% of loans to individuals are in Lari. This is a huge shift. When a population trusts their own currency enough to take out a 20-year mortgage in it, the georgian money to usd rate becomes much less volatile. It creates a floor for the currency’s value.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
If you're heading to Georgia this month or planning a business transfer, don't just wing it.
First, check the NBG’s official daily rate. It’s the benchmark.
Second, use a multi-currency card like Wise or Revolut if you can. They usually beat the local "zero-fee" booths because those booths often hide their profit in a bad exchange rate.
Third, always carry some cash. While Tbilisi is very "tap-to-pay" friendly in 2026, if you’re heading into the mountains of Svaneti or buying a bottle of homemade wine on the side of the road in Kakheti, cash is still king.
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Keep an eye on the news regarding the "Middle Corridor" trade route. As Georgia becomes a bigger hub for goods moving between China and Europe, the Lari's importance is only going to grow. It’s not just "vacation money" anymore; it’s a key player in a very complex regional economy.
To get the most out of your money, keep your USD in a high-yield account until the moment you actually need Lari. With the NBG maintaining a cautious "normalization" of interest rates around 7%, the Lari is likely to remain one of the more stable currencies in the neighborhood for the remainder of 2026.
Your Next Steps:
- Check the current NBG rate before you head to any physical exchange booth to ensure you aren't being quoted a "tourist rate."
- Prioritize ATM withdrawals using a card with no foreign transaction fees; TBC and Bank of Georgia ATMs are generally the most reliable for international cards.
- Download a currency converter app that works offline, as cellular service can be spotty in the rural regions where you'll need the math most.