Cost of living in Russia
Summary of cost of living in Russia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: руб 152,958
- Single person estimated monthly costs: руб 78,322
- Russia is the 2nd cheapest country in Eastern Europe (11 out of 12)
- Cost of living in Russia is cheaper than in 86% of countries in the World (66 out of 77)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | руб 406 | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | руб 283 | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | руб 144 | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | руб 65 | ||
12 eggs, large | руб 88 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | руб 130 | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | руб 333 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | руб 107 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | руб 34 | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | руб 66 | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | руб 593 | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | руб 110 | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | руб 29 | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | руб 68,217 | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | руб 38,434 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | руб 5,700 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | руб 32,389 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | руб 23,273 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | руб 3,730 | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | руб 439 | ||
40” flat screen tv | руб 24,196 | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | руб 6,604 | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | руб 413 | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | руб 811 | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | руб 4,784 | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | руб 2,535 | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | руб 5,645 | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | руб 6,989 | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | руб 1,246,400 | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | руб 47 | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | руб 1,609 | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | руб 451 | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | руб 549 | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | руб 1,290 | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | руб 307 | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | руб 183 | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | руб 213 | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | руб 81 | ||
Tube of toothpaste | руб 100 | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | руб 559 | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | руб 1,443 | ||
2 tickets to the movies | руб 580 | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | руб 5,605 | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | руб 3,345 | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | руб 385 | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | руб 166 | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | руб 220 | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | руб 35,616 | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | руб 7 | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | руб 3,599 | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | руб 160 |
Map of Cost of Living in Russia

This map shows only the top cities in Russia. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Russia
(top cities by data quality)
Ranking | City | Price Index * |
---|---|---|
1st | Moscow | 86 |
2nd | Nizhnekamsk | 77 |
3rd | Yakutsk | 75 |
4th | Grozny | 73 |
5th | Saint Petersburg | 73 |
6th | Yekaterinburg | 62 |
7th | Novosibirsk | 59 |
8th | Samara | 58 |
9th | Sterlitamak | 57 |
10th | Voronezh | 55 |
11th | Ufa | 54 |
12th | Perm | 53 |
13th | Volgograd | 53 |
14th | Kaliningrad | 52 |
15th | Krasnodar | 52 |
16th | Tomsk | 50 |
17th | Krasnoyarsk | 48 |
18th | Izhevsk | 47 |
19th | Irkutsk | 47 |
20th | Omsk | 47 |
21st | Chelyabinsk | 46 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Russia? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Russia of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Russia
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Moscow is 18% more expensive than in Saint Petersburg
- Cost of living in Moscow is 47% cheaper than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Cheboksary is 13% more expensive than in Niš
- Cost of living in Moscow is 39% cheaper than in Provo, Utah
- Cost of living in Moscow is 16% more expensive than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Moscow is 103% more expensive than in Shymkent
- Cost of living in Yekaterinburg is 24% more expensive than in Brest
- Cost of living in Barnaul is 60% cheaper than in Tallinn
- Cost of living in Samara is 25% cheaper than in Lima
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 27% cheaper than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Moscow is 56% more expensive than in Minsk
- Cost of living in Tula is 62% cheaper than in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Cost of living in Moscow is 43% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 49% cheaper than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 69% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Moscow is 72% more expensive than in Tambov
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 18% more expensive than in Asunción
- Cost of living in Moscow is 63% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Volgograd is about the same as in Córdoba
- Cost of living in Moscow is 43% cheaper than in Barcelona
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- One-way ticket in public transport in Moscow costs руб 42 (2 days ago)
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Krasnodar costs руб 1,429,900 (2 days ago)
- Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Krasnodar costs руб 8,000 (2 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Krasnodar costs руб 50 (2 days ago)
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Vologda costs руб 800,000 (6 days ago)
- Public transport in Moscow costs руб 400 (8 days ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Moscow costs руб 600 (8 days ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Moscow costs руб 45,000 (8 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Moscow costs руб 60,000 (8 days ago)
- 1 kg of rice in Moscow costs руб 80 (8 days ago)