Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Smolensk and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Smolensk: $1,068 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Smolensk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,068
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Smolensk and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Smolensk and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Smolensk vs $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Smolensk $1,068
  • Tbilisi $1,266

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Smolensk vs $2,007 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Smolensk $1,602
  • Tbilisi $2,007

A family of three spends $2,137 per month in Smolensk vs $2,749 in Tbilisi, rent included.

  • Smolensk $2,137
  • Tbilisi $2,749

Smolensk is about 16% cheaper than Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Smolensk and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Smolensk 21% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.38 ₽867
$11.34 ₾29.35
-8.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.07 ₽2,677
$39.05 ₾101
-17.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.92 ₽577
$9.63 ₾24.92
-28.14%
Cappuccino
$2.53 ₽211
$3.46 ₾8.95
-26.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₽79.6
$1.09 ₾2.82
-12.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₽46.12
$0.63 ₾1.62
-12.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 ₽145
$2.77 ₾7.17
-37.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ₽248
$3.10 ₾8.04
-4.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 ₽96.0
$2.25 ₾5.81
-48.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₽63.3
$0.80 ₾2.07
-5.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 ₽114
$1.76 ₾4.55
-22.73%
Eggs
$1.53 ₽128
$2.75 ₾7.11
-44.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 ₽942
$9.39 ₾24.32
20.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.13 ₽428
$6.66 ₾17.23
-22.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.03 ₽921
$12.92 ₾33.45
-14.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ₽149
$1.67 ₾4.31
6.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₽154
$1.80 ₾4.65
2.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 ₽146
$1.92 ₾4.97
-8.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.72 ₽227
$2.41 ₾6.24
12.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 ₽68.3
$0.86 ₾2.23
-4.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₽46.80
$0.69 ₾1.80
-18.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ₽108
$1.40 ₾3.62
-7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₽56.3
$0.71 ₾1.85
-5.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 ₽259
$3.51 ₾9.08
-11.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 ₽599
$7.61 ₾19.69
-5.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₽81.5
$1.63 ₾4.21
-39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 ₽156
$2.31 ₾5.98
-19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 ₽47.15
$0.37 ₾0.96
51.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$15.67 ₾40.57
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 ₽178
$1.14 ₾2.95
86.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₽27.20
$0.79 ₾2.05
-58.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 ₽415
$11.86 ₾30.70
-58.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₽69.9
$1.40 ₾3.62
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K ₽2.7M
$24.8K ₾64.2K
30.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K ₽2.9M
$21.9K ₾56.6K
58.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ₽11.3K
$89.1 ₾231
51.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.99 ₽500
$13.21 ₾34.19
-54.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.07 ₽757
$19.76 ₾51.1
-54.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.80 ₽2,654
$64.9 ₾168
-51.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.76 ₽1,983
$19.02 ₾49.24
24.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 ₽529
$6.57 ₾17.02
-3.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 ₽28.2K
$377 ₾975
-10.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,938 ₽579.0K
$10.8K ₾27.9K
-35.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7 ₽7,567
$102 ₾265
-11.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 ₽4,292
$39.70 ₾103
29.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 ₽11.0K
$118 ₾305
12.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₽8,590
$123 ₾320
-16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 ₽40.6K
$666 ₾1,724
-26.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 ₽28.3K
$449 ₾1,163
-24.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₽65.8K
$1,284 ₾3,324
-38.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 ₽44.0K
$890 ₾2,303
-40.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,481 ₽207.1K
$2,425 ₾6,276
2.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,309 ₽109.2K
$1,380 ₾3,573
-5.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Smolensk
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$753 ₽62.9K
$680 ₾1,760
10.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.45
12.62
69.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Smolensk: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Smolensk
$339
Tbilisi
$449 32.5% $110
Groceries & Markets
Smolensk
$204
Tbilisi
$234 14.8% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Smolensk
$170
Tbilisi
$172 1.6% $2.8
Eating Out
Smolensk
$155
Tbilisi
$188 21.4% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smolensk
$150
Tbilisi
$122 18.7% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Smolensk
$44
Tbilisi
$78 75.5% $34
Getting Around
Smolensk
$6 *
Tbilisi
$22 270% $16

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Smolensk versus $666 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Smolensk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Smolensk versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $234 – making Smolensk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Smolensk
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
02:24 2:24 AM
03:24 3:24 AM
1 h ahead of Smolensk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
325,495
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Smolensk Tbilisi 1,730 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Smolensk
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Smolensk vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Smolensk?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 19%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,602 per month in Smolensk and $1,899 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Smolensk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Smolensk and in Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,068 in Smolensk and $1,266 in Tbilisi. That's a gap of about 19%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $338 per month in Smolensk and $377 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Smolensk or in Tbilisi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Smolensk, where all-in costs run around $1,068, than in Tbilisi at $1,266. In Smolensk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Smolensk or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Smolensk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Smolensk or Tbilisi?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Smolensk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Smolensk vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?