WAGES, GOODS, AND SERVICES IN TBILISI

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02697544
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 13, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-00127
• Publication Date: December 21, 1953

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SECURITY I ORMATION
COUNTRY USSR (Georgian SSR)
REPORT NO.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
DATE DISTR. 21 Dec. 1963
SUB3ECT Wages, Goods, and Services in Tbilisi NO. OF PAGES 6
DATE OF INFORMATION 1946 - January 1952 REFERENCES:
PLACE ACQUIRED
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
SOURCE
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
WAGES, GOODS AND SERVICES IN TBILISI
1. Although wage standards and salaries in Georgia were similar or identi-
cal to standards throughout the rest of the USSR, the 'Georgian people
seemed to live much better than those in other sections of the country
ffilcls. A and B7. I attribute this largely to four factors:
a. The nature of the people themselves and their spirit'of cooperation.
In other sections of the USSR every person was out for himself;
the Georgians trfed to help one another as much as they could,
not only within the family but between friends..'Were a man and
his wife were both working, life was not too difficult; put if
there were children in the family and the wife was unable to work,
life -could be more difficult, In such cases, those in more com-
fortable circumstances helped the others through their difficulties.
b. Another contributing factor was that many people were able to
supplement their salaries with outside income. For example, one
of my friends wove silk as a pastime, which proved to be rather
profitable. There seemed to be a number of such possibilities.
c. Another factor in the better living standards was that apparently
the authorities were less severe with the workers on the kolkhozy.
Each had his own garden plot and farm animals 'and was able to dis-'
pose of the produce on the free market without much interference
from the authortties. There had not been the periodio waves of
seizures by the authorities in Georgia of such produce. and land as
had been reported in other sections of the USSR; in the entire
post-war period there was little know il of such activities. The
result of all this was that there were many more goods available
to the Georgians, which naturally improved their standard of
living.
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d. One more contributing factor in this region was that the workers
on the sovkhozy lived much better than those I heard of in other
sections of the country. Being in a sub-tropical region, there
was a specialization on crops which give a relatively high return,
such as tea, grapes, and citrus and other fruits. More of these
products found their way to the Georgian markets than would be,
the case elsewhere, although they were not always readily available,
of course.
All of this added up to a picture of relatively good living
conditions in Georgia as compared to the rest of the country.
2. Ordinary workers in Georgia worked an eight-hour day, six days a week.
Coal mines worked three shifts a day, and construction on hydro-
electric stations usually was on a two-shift basis. But the ordinary
standard was one shift a day. I myself worked about 12 hours a day,
and six or even seven days a week. I wad entitled to 24 working days
of leave a year, or four weeks.
In the case of sickness, workers and salaried people received full
salaries while incapacitated, usually for up to two months, or�up to
three or four months in special cases. If they were incapacitated for
a longer period than that, they were usually put on a pension. How- '
ever, workers had to have been employed for three to six months to be
entitled to this benefit, after which they could receive .half of it;
after a full year, workers were entitled to the full benefit. I
felt that labor-turnover was not so much of a problem in Georgia as
in other sections of the country.
14, Housing conditions were quite bad. I knew of many instances in which
seven or eight people were living in One room. JMaintenance and 'r'epair'
�were practically non-existent, and it u9ually took a bribe to get any
work of this sort 4one. New housing construction was inadequate for
the needs of the.population.
5. Minimum wages for the simplest' type of work in Tbilisi were about,
600-700 rubles per month, but 1,090 rubles was the usual average for
workers. Coal miners, however, were in a very favored position, for
some of them earned, up to 2,500 rubles per month. Construction workers
earned somewhat less than that, perhaps 2,000 rubles or so. From these
wages and salaries it,was usual for persons to subscribe two weeks of
their incomes annually for State Loans. Workers had no insurance to
pay, this fee being paid by the employers. Average income taxes amounted
to 10% or so, with the percentage increasing or decreasing as income
varied from the average; I base this on my own highest salaiay (1948.-
1950) Whidh was slightly above the average, 1,300 rubles per month.
6. As my wife was also working and earned a salary of 1,500 rubles per
month, we were able to live quite comfortably. I estimate that it
cost us about 30 rubles a day for food, which included meat every day
and butter as we needed it, as well as other such items. The two of
us shared a two-room, 50 sq. m. apartment with my brother-in-law.
This included a living room, a glassed in terrace of 20 sq. m., and a
kitchen. 71 PI,P WAR no bath. For this we paid a rent of 40 rubles
per month. I was considering renting(pOher
room for ourselves. In aaaltion to the basic rent, I paid 25-:),Nbles
per month for electricity, but this included that used for coot=
as well, since the stove was electric. Water cost li-2 rubles per
month per person, and heating cost 15 rubles per month per room.
7. Clothing was expensive in Tbilisi, being four or five times more
expensive than in Western Germany. However, the quality was equal to
that in Germany; in fact) linens were of higher quality. Shoes were
expensive, but of &clod quality. Dry cleaning facilities were available
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at ,a cost of 30 rubles per suit, with a wait or two or three days.
There were no laundries, however, since the Georgians preferred to
do their Own work. My wife used to hire a woman to do the laundry.
I want to emphasize however, that our relatively good living standard
was possible only because we had no children and my wife was able to
supplement the family income with her own salary.
B. Tbilisi had a number of movie houses and theaters. I estimate that
there were 10 large movie houses, as well as countless smaller ones
and movies at numerous clubs. Prices for tickets ranged from three
to five rubles. Of the several theaters, there were two in the
Georgian language, one in Russian, one in Azerbaijani, and one Jewish.
Prices for these were 5 - 12 rubles. In addition there were two (311114 .
drWs theaters, one in Georgian and one in Russian, and a marionette
theater. There was an opera house where operas and ballet were pre-
sented. The usual practice with the opera was that there would be
one or two guest stars from Moscow, but the basic company was from
Tbilisi. (The city maintained its own ballet company.) Tickets were
up to 20 rubles at this house. There was also a theater for presen-
tation of operettas and light operas. Finally, Tbilisi had a circus
during the winter months which cost up to 15 rubles a performance. In
addition there were a number of small club theaters.
9. Tbilisi had about seven or eight large restaurants with quite good
kitchens. The Georgians were famous for their food. There were any
number of smaller restaurants and cafes in Tbilisi.
10. It was quite a common practice to entertain and visit friends in
Georgia, Georgians being known as a hospitable people.
Annexes:
A. Cost of Living Reference Sheet, Tbilisi, Georgian SSR
B. Budget in Rubles for an Average Family in Georgian SSR (1952)
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Annex A. Cost of Living Reference Sheet, Tbilisi,
FOODSTUFFS. STATE STORES
(prices -in rubles)
Black bread, kilo 1.70
White bread, kilo 3.
-Milks liter 2.50
Eggs, dozen 10.
Butter, kilo 25.
Vegetable oil, liter- 10-20..
Cheese, kilo 10-25.
Sugars kilo
_Beefs filet, kilo 15.
Beef, 2nd choice, kilo 12.
Beef, other cuts, kilo 5-10.
Muttons let grade, kilo 18.
Pork, 1st grades kilo 20.
,Veal, let grade., kilo 18.
Chicken, dressed, kilo � 30.
Fresh salmon or carp, kilo 12.
Fish, 2nd grade, kilo 3- 8.
Carrots' kilo 2.
.Potatoes, kilo 1.
Rice, kilo 13.
White beans, kilo 7.
Apples, kilo 3- 7.
Oranges, each 3- 5.
Dried fruit, kilo 8-30.
Salt, kilo 1.20
LUXURY FOODS
Black caviar, kilo
Smoked salmons kilo
Vodkas 4o degrees, liter
Wine, 85 centiliters
"Cognac," Soviet, 85 01.
"Champagnes" Soviet, bot.
Milk chocolates kilo
Coffees ground, kilo
Tea, let grade, kilo
CLOTHING
Rayon, meter
Wool, medium grade, meter
� Cottop�.meraerized, meter
Cottoh socks, pair .
Rayon stockings, goods pr.
Man's wool suit.
Cotton dress
Man's leather jacket
Leather shoes -
'Felt boots for winter
Handbag, artificial leather
Woman's felt hat
Man's felt hat
800
40.
45.
8-12.
75.
30,
75.
400
80.
170.
.8-15.
5.
20-40..
550-140o.
� 40-50.
800.
120-400.
110.
30-120.
90.
80.
(b)(3)
Georgian SSR
FREE MARKET
(prices in rubles)
2.5
Not sold
12-18..5
30-35.
20-30.
20-35.
Not sold
30.
25.
10.
25.
30.
30.
45.
Not sold
Not sold
2.
3.,
15-20. '
7.
5- 8.
3-5,
10-15." .
Not sold
60.
40.
25.
7.
Not sold.
Not sold
Not sold
Not sold
Not sold
Not sold
Ii
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Annex A (Cont'd)
MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS
Man's bicycle
Baby-carriage
Aluminum saucepan
Milk can
MUM and fork, metal
Cup and saucer
Upright piano
Electric refrigerator
AUTOMOBILES
Small car
Medium car (like
Large luxury car
of 19)46 Packard,
work finished by
Housing:
Fuel:
Heating:
Taxes:
Ford)
(copy
carriage
hand)
STATE STORES
(prices in rubles)
675.
12-30.
12-25,
7- 8.
6.
4000.
3000.
FREE MARKET
(prices in rubles)
Not sold
7500. Moskvitch) Mileage 70,000-80,000km(
16000. Pobeda) Mileage 100,000-130,000 km(
27000. ZIM) Mileage 100,000-130,000 km.
1.20 per sq. m. for the first 10 sq. m. for one person
3.50 for each additional sq. m.
coal - 110 per tn.
firewood - 40 per cu, m.
kerosene - 1.10 per lit.
15 for each room
10% of income or more
taxes for a married person
taxes for a married person
taxes for a married person
without children: 6% of income
with one child: 3% of income
with two children: .5% of income
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Annex B: Budget in Rubles for an
Average Family in Georgian SSR (1952)
TOTAL FAMILY INCOME
Unskilled
Industrial
Workers
Skilled Wor-
kers or Tech-
nicians
Engineers, Higher
Gov't Officials,
Doctors, etc.
12,000
18,000
30,000
2
3
4
5
1. Food
2. Clothing and footwear
6,400
1,500
9,320
2,000
13,300
3,000
3. Apartment
200
300
500
4, Furniture
200
300
500
5. Electricity and heating
400
400
400
6. Community utility services
50
50
50
7. Personal care and services
500
700
1,000
8. Newspapers
60
200
9. Entertainment
300
500
500
10. Transportation costs
360
400
500
11. Taxes: Income Tax (podokhodnyy
600
1,500
3,000
Bachelor's tax
60
90
150
State loan
ls000
1,500
3,000
Other taxes
120
180
600
12. Children's education expenses
(textbooks, paper, pencils,
music teacher)
210
700
800
13. Vacation costs
2,000
1V1 Sport and hobbies
gm,
500
TOTAL
12,000
18,000
30,000
Note: The sample budgets are made for three income groups living in,
Tbilisi or any other larger town in Georgian SSR. Each family consists
of husband, wife, and two children under 17 years of age; both parents
work ir none are Party members (Party fee on a 1,200 rubles monthly income
was around 70 rubles, which amounted to almost seven percent), and all
families described would be assigned government apartments.
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