West vs East. Why regional centers differ so much from each other

Illustrative photo. Photo: Nasha Niva

How the population changed

Gomel, the largest regional center, lost its status as a half-million city this year — in one year, its population decreased from 501,193 to 499,853 people.

Among the regional centers, only Grodno (+1184) and Brest (+1077) grew.

If we look at the dynamics of the last 30 years, the number of residents has increased in all regional centers except Mogilev. In 1996, 356 thousand people lived there, compared to almost 353 thousand now.

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Mogilev. Illustrative photo: Nasha Niva

However, the population growth in Grodno and Brest is incomparably greater than in Vitebsk and Gomel.

Over the last 30 years, Grodno has grown from 298 thousand people to almost 365 thousand. This is an increase of 67 thousand people, or about 22.4% — a record indicator. Brest, during the same period, grew by 62 thousand people: from 285 thousand to 347 thousand. This is an increase of 21.8%.

At the same time, in Vitebsk, the population grew by less than 8 thousand residents: from 350 thousand to almost 358 thousand.

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Vitebsk. Illustrative photo: Getty Images / Frans Sellies

The population of Gomel increased by 2.5 thousand people compared to 1996.

Salaries also differ

Salaries in the regional centers in the west and east of the country also differ, and again not in favor of the eastern cities.

Average gross salaries for January-February 2026 by regional centers:

• Brest — 2726 rubles;

• Grodno — 2615 rubles;

• Gomel — 2502 rubles;

• Mogilev — 2487 rubles;

• Vitebsk — 2313 rubles.

According to official figures, the average accrued salary in the wealthiest regional center (Brest) and the poorest (Vitebsk) differs by almost 18%.

It is worth noting that in 1996, there was almost no difference in salaries. In 2006, Mogilev could still be seen in the top 10, in addition to Grodno and Brest.

However, if we look at later indicators, such as 2016 or 2020, it becomes clear: only Grodno and Brest remain in the top for salaries, competing with each other.

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Average accrued salary in dollars in 2016 and 2020. Among the regional centers, only Brest and Grodno are in the top. Data from Alfa Bank. Screenshot: alfabank.by

Naturally, real estate prices in Brest and Grodno are traditionally higher than in the regional centers in the east. Among the eastern regional centers, Gomel holds the leading position in both salaries and real estate prices.

These three cities are almost always in the top

Various ratings also attest to a more comfortable life in the west of the country.

According to studies by the Center for New Ideas, Minsk, Grodno, and Brest traditionally occupy the top lines of the rating of Belarusian cities. The rating takes into account economic status, quality of life, demographic indicators, and tourist attractiveness.

Thus, in 2023, Brest took the first position, Grodno the second, and Minsk the third. In 2026, Minsk was in the top 3, followed by Brest, and then Grodno.

Vitebsk was in fifth place in the latest ranking, Mogilev in sixth, and Gomel in eighth.

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Grodno. Illustrative photo: Nasha Niva

Similar trends are noticeable in people's discussions. When the question of moving to Belarus from other countries or within Belarus arises on social networks, most often, besides Minsk, Brest and Grodno are considered.

Why do Grodno and Brest have a better quality of life?

There is no single answer to the question of why these two western regional centers have surged ahead over the past thirty years. Several factors play a role here.

Tourism positively influences the economy of the two western regional centers.

This leads to the development of the hotel and restaurant business, as well as daily rental housing. Prices for daily rental apartments in Grodno and Brest are significantly higher than in the regional centers in the east.

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Brest. Illustrative photo: Nasha Niva

Unlike residents of regional centers in the east, residents of Grodno and Brest have always had an additional opportunity to earn money through cross-border trade.

This was especially popular in pre-COVID times, but even now there are enough people who still earn money from trips to Poland or Lithuania. This can be either a primary or supplementary income, which is not reflected in statistics but will influence the well-being of residents, including indirectly through the fact that money earned this way stays in the city.

Besides smuggling and shuttle trade, these cities traditionally have a more developed car business. Especially in Grodno, which borders Poland and Lithuania.

Due to their proximity to the EU border, it is easier for residents of Brest and Grodno to go there for work, because a hypothetical truck driver from Grodno or Brest can easily get from home to base in 2-3 hours, while a resident of Vitebsk or Gomel would have to travel across the entire country.

Another factor that may explain the difference between the west and east of the country is the later arrival of the Soviets, as Grodno and Brest were under Poland during the interwar period, not under the USSR with its collective farms. Therefore, the spirit of entrepreneurship and private initiative were preserved to a greater extent in Western Belarus.

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