Cost of living in Russia

Summary of cost of living in Russia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: руб 223,740
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: руб 116,850
  • Russia is the cheapest country in Eastern Europe (10 out of 10)
  • Cost of living in Russia is cheaper than in 94% of countries in the World (62 out of 66)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district руб 570
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) руб 398
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast руб 202
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk руб 85
12 eggs, large руб 129
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes руб 223
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese руб 455
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples руб 123
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes руб 44
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket руб 82
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality руб 706
2 liters of coca-cola руб 159
Bread for 2 people for 1 day руб 41
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area руб 104,353
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area руб 57,898
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat руб 8,160
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area руб 53,509
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area руб 28,492
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio руб 4,669
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) руб 548
40” flat screen tv руб 23,357
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) руб 7,770
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) руб 628
Hourly rate for cleaning help руб 1,182
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) руб 5,461
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) руб 3,081
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) руб 7,397
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes руб 8,318
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new руб 2,544,230
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas руб 54
Monthly ticket public transport руб 2,208
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) руб 526
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) руб 679
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) руб 2,296
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) руб 515
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) руб 292
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) руб 331
4 rolls of toilet paper руб 125
Tube of toothpaste руб 152
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city руб 688
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub руб 2,039
2 tickets to the movies руб 813
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) руб 7,351
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert руб 4,162
1 cocktail drink in downtown club руб 552
Cappuccino in expat area of the city руб 219
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) руб 260
Ipad wi-fi 128gb руб 69,240
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) руб 2.91
1 month of gym membership in business district руб 4,892
1 package of marlboro cigarettes руб 205

Map of Cost of Living in Russia

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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 74
2nd Saint Petersburg 70
3rd Yakutsk 52
4th Stary Oskol 46
5th Kaliningrad 42
6th Voronezh 37
7th Perm 37
8th Irkutsk 36
9th Izhevsk 36
10th Krasnodar 36
11th Omsk 34
12th Tomsk 34

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.

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Prices recently added

  • 1 liter of gasoline in Kazan' costs руб 52 (2 days ago)
  • 1 kg of apples in Kazan' costs руб 120 (2 days ago)
  • 10 eggs, large in Kazan' costs руб 168 (2 days ago)
  • Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Kazan' costs руб 300 (2 days ago)
  • 1 us gal of gasoline in Moscow costs руб 14 (2 days ago)
  • 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Saint Petersburg costs руб 200 (2 days ago)
  • Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Saint Petersburg costs руб 75 (2 days ago)
  • Cocktail drink in downtown club in Saint Petersburg costs руб 400 (2 days ago)
  • Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Saint Petersburg costs руб 5,000 (2 days ago)
  • 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) in Saint Petersburg costs руб 8,000 (2 days ago)

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