Indoor smoking is still visible in many social spaces. Law vibe is generally formal and somewhat strict in public-facing settings.
Minimum budget: rural $600/mo, urban $800/mo. Medical insurance: $500/yr.
Auto: Russian licenses are usually accepted for tourists, but carry an IDP, translation for rental and police comfort. Rentals are around $30-70/day for Accent, Rio, Logan class, with SUVs priced higher for mountain, desert routes. Land-border movement is politically and administratively constrained; Georgia, Russia, Iran crossings are not a casual rental-car plan and queues, checks can be heavy.
Smoking: Indoor smoking is still visible in many social spaces.
Police / rules: Police and public-order vibe is formal and rule-aware: expect visible order and some bureaucratic seriousness, with less casual flexibility than in softer places.