Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Smolensk Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Smolensk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $995 in Smolensk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,566 in Smolensk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,136 in Smolensk, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 25% more than Smolensk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Smolensk are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Smolensk 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$10.33 ₽873

9.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$37.78 ₽3,192

2.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$6.72 ₽568

41.67%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.70 ₽228

26.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$1.24 ₽105

-16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.63 ₽53.0

1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.68 ₽142

55.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.00 ₽253

8.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.15 ₽97.0

88.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.76 ₽63.9

-2.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.39 ₽117

23.02%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.45 ₽122

95.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$10.92 ₽922

-15.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.90 ₽414

37.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$10.94 ₽924

16.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$1.74 ₽147

-5.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.75 ₽148

1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.78 ₽151

5.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$2.68 ₽226

-8.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.68 ₽57.2

27.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.56 ₽47.15

16.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$1.26 ₽106

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.77 ₽64.8

-3.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$3.17 ₽268

7.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$6.70 ₽566

13.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.11 ₽94.2

53.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.82 ₽154

30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.54 ₽45.53

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$1.97 ₽166

-40.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.34 ₽28.34

123.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$5.26 ₽445

115.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$0.81 ₽68.7

64.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$31.0K ₽2.6M

-20.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$37.8K ₽3.2M

-41.81%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

$126 ₽10.7K

-29.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.63

$5.30 ₽448

151.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$7.07 ₽598

184.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$37.55 ₽3,172

82.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$23.85 ₽2,015

-24.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$5.83 ₽493

15.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾971

$330 ₽27.8K

13.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$5,841 ₽493.5K

83.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$73.8 ₽6,236

37.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$50.6 ₽4,271

-22.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$127 ₽10.8K

-7.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$103 ₽8,663

19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$521 ₽44.0K

30.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$346 ₽29.2K

31.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$899 ₽76.0K

44.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$634 ₽53.5K

41.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$2,236 ₽188.9K

9.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$1,408 ₽119.0K

3.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$735 ₽62.1K

-11.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

-39.90%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Smolensk: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $521 in Smolensk. 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 13% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $38.00 in Smolensk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $200 – making Smolensk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Tbilisi vs Smolensk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,492 in Smolensk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $995 in Smolensk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $330 in Smolensk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Smolensk, where all-in costs run around $995, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Smolensk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.