The cost of living in Russia

For foreigners life in Russia is clearly inexpensive even in big cities with groceries and utility bills. Even in the rural areas prices are much more cheaper with low bills for food and transport. Although the costs of living in Russia totally depend on your lifestyle. Even Moscow is considered is not so expensive city to live in if you are a foreigner there.

In this guide we are going to tell you the truth about:

• General cost of living and standards of living in Russia
• Cost of living in Moscow
• Cost of living in Saint Petersburg
• Cost of living in Novosibirsk
• Cost of living in Yekaterinburg
• Cost of living in Nizhny Novgorod
• Wages and salary in Russia
• Housing costs in Russia
• Rental costs in Russia
• Property prices in Russia
• The cost of domestic bills in Russia
• Utility bills in Russia
• Telecommunications in Russia
• Healthcare costs in Russia
• Childcare costs in Russia
• Study costs in Russia
• The cost of food and drink in Russia
• Groceries in Russia
• Restaurants in Russia
• Beer, wine, and spirits in Russia
• Coffee in Russia
• Cost of living in Russia: Transport prices
• Public transport
• Private transport in Russia
• Leisure activities in Russia
• Clothing in Russia
• Sports in Russia
• Taxation and social security in Russia
• Assistance with living costs

General cost of living and standards of living in Russia

As for Better Life Index, Russia has a better quality of life over the recent years although in many cities and especially towns people live behind. According to the last data, the minimum cost of living in towns is 11 653 including housing, food and other services. But in Moscow the minimum cost of living is 20195 rubles, so for general cost of living you will need a bigger budget.

It is known that 12.3 % of Russia’s population live in a poverty. So, the minimum cost of living in Russia should be so much higher.

Here we are going to give you some information about costs of living in Russia:

1. Cost of living in Moscow

• 62% cheaper than New York;

• 31% cheaper than Berlin;

• 19% cheaper than Madrid;

• 32% cheaper than Brussels;

• 46% cheaper than Paris.

2. Cost of living in Saint Petersburg

• 71% cheaper than New York;
• 47% cheaper than Berlin;
• 37% cheaper than Madrid;
• 48% cheaper than Brussels;
• 58% cheaper than Paris.

3. Cost of living in Novosibirsk

• 77% cheaper than New York;
• 58% cheaper than Berlin;
• 50% cheaper than Madrid;
• 58% cheaper than Brussels;
• 67% cheaper than Paris .

4. Cost of living in Yekaterinburg

• 75% cheaper than New York;
• 55% cheaper than Berlin;
• 46% cheaper than Madrid;
• 55% cheaper than Brussels;
• 64% cheaper than Paris;

5. Cost of living in Nizhny Novgorod

• 76% cheaper than New York;
• 56% cheaper than Berlin;
• 48% cheaper than Madrid;
• 57% cheaper than Brussels;
• 66% cheaper than Paris.

Wages and salary in Russia

The minimum wage in Russia is like 42% of median salary in Russia. The present minimum wage is 12 792 rubles. The more expensive cost of living the higher minimum wage is. For instance, the monthly minimum wage in Moscow is 20 589 rubles and the monthly minimum wage in Saint Petersburg is 19 190 rubles.

The average salary in Russia is about 55 000 rubles for the Russians but when it comes to the foreigners their salary is higher than this. Besides, the average wage in big cities is so much higher than in towns in Russia.

Housing costs in Russia

Rental costs in Russia

In Russia you have an option to choose apartments within the city or houses and apartments outside the city. But if you want to rent something in Moscow and Saint Petersburg it is going to be very expensive. The apartments in big cities are high blocks with a shared entrance, stairway, and elevator. A one-bedroom flat in the center of Moscow costs 70 000 rubles to 150 000 rubles. Outside the city center price is about 40000 rubles. But if it is a center of Moscow a three-bedroom apartment will cost 200 000 rubles.

Please take into consideration the road that should be at least an hour and make you to own the car, so you should include the cost of petrol into your monthly budget. Besides, Moscow has a lot of traffic jams, so using the underground is cheaper and faster compared to driving in rush hour.

Property prices in Russia

If you are going to move to Russia to buy a home the price in Moscow city center will be 670 000 rubles and 225 000 outside. So, the prices are much cheaper in other cities. In Bryansk you can buy a city center apartment for 120 000 per square meter.

You can generally borrow a maximum of 80% of the sale price for a property in Russia, and your mortgage payment must not exceed 35% of your income.

The cost of domestic bills in Russia

Utility bills in Russia

Russian electricity prices are among some of the cheapest in the world, estimated to cost 4.81 p. per KWh in March 2024. So, you will pay utility costs of around 8,500 p. per month for an 85-square-meter apartment. These costs include electricity, water, heating, and garbage.

Most heating in Russia is centralized, meaning that it is turned on in apartment blocks in the autumn and turned off again in spring. There are usually no thermostats, meaning you can’t control the temperature in your apartment. This heating adds a small fee to your utility bills.

Telecommunications in Russia

TV in Russia is free but if you want to have more channels you will need to set up the cable or satellite package. The prices for standard packages are normally about 1500 rubles to 8000 rubles per year. There are a lot of internet providers in Russia, for example, MTS offers TV and internet for 600 -1200 rubles monthly that depends on speed. Moreover, sometimes there is a single package that includes TV, phone, and internet together.

Healthcare costs in Russia

Russian residents have free healthcare but it is considered to be a bad quality, underfunded. In Russia compulsory health insurance has a limited coverage. So, for foreigners it is better to have private health insurance. Many companies offer health insurance in their employment package. To be added, since 2021 foreigners must go though constant health checks. It is about 5000 rubles in price and happens between every three months to a year.

Childcare costs in Russia

Kids up to the age of seven are going to the state kindergarten.

State kindergarten is available for children up to the age of seven. On the other hand, if you want your child to attend a private or international nursery, this is likely to cost far more.

If you need in-house childcare, hiring a nanny or babysitter is another option. Local babysitters might charge 200–400 p. per hour. In-home childcare can cost significantly more – the most expensive option is hiring an international nanny, some of whom charge up to 73,600 p.–90,000p.

Study costs in Russia

Russia offers international schools for kids of the foreigners but many foreigners choose local Russian primary schools. The quality of education is quite high there but they study only in Russian language. Also Russia offers free for everyone public schools.

Most of international schools are in big cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Their curriculum is based on the American or British system. And the prices are quite high there like the British School in Moscow charges 1,700,000–3,300,000p. per year, depending on which grade your child is in.

There is a plenty of universities to study there. The education standard is quite high: 27 of its institutions have been featured in the QS World University Rankings of 2019, and 10 universities from this list are among the top 400 universities worldwide.

Many universities offer a choice of a four-year bachelor’s degree or a six-year master’s degree. The prices of university education in Russia differ according to the degree program and the university itself.

The cost of food and drink in Russia

Groceries in Russia

Even though there are plenty of affordable supermarkets all over Russia, the quality can vary.

Here are some typical prices for products in Moscow:

• 1 liter of milk – 75 p.;

• Loaf of fresh white bread – 48 p.;

• 1 kilogram of rice – 96 p.;

• 1 kilogram of apples – 109 p.

Restaurants in Russia

There are a lot of restaurants in Russia to eat tasty and fresh food. You can try there a lot of cuisines like Russian, Georgian and Korea food.

A food at a small restaurant costs 1000 rubles for a person and a food at the bigger restaurant costs about 4000 rubles for a person.

Beer, wine, and spirits in Russia

• a half liter of domestic beer in a restaurant cost about 300 rubles;

• a half liter of domestic beer in a supermarket cost about 65 rubles;
• imported beers cost around 125 rubles per bottle;
• wine costs 350 rubles –1,000 rubles;

• the minimum price for vodka is 203 rubles per half liter.

Coffee in Russia:

• a cappuccino in Moscow costs about 180 rubles.

Cost of living in Russia: Transport prices

Public transport

Most cities in Russia have a good public transport system including trams, trolleybus, marshrutki , and buses. Big cities also have metro systems.

To use public transport in Moscow, you have two options:

1. All-in-one ticket – for all modes of transport, can be bought for

• one journey per 60 rubles;
• two journeys for 120 rubles;
• one day for 240 rubles;
• 3 days for 455 rubles.

2. Troika card – for all modes of transport, deposit 50 p. You can then top up this card.

• journeys cost 42 p. for a single journey;
• 65 p. for a 90-minute journey with changes.

In other cities, you can buy a ticket for a single metro journey from a ticket machine at the station.

Ticket cost in different cities:

• 60 p. in Petersburg;

• 36 p. in Yekaterinburg;

• 28 p. in Nizhny Novgorod;

• 26 p. in Novosibirsk.

You can also buy monthly tickets if you are using transport regularly.

Private transport in Russia

Marshrutki are an interesting case: in some cities, they are run by private companies, while other cities have integrated them into the local transport network. They are frequent in most cities and stop almost anywhere along set routes. Fares are usually about one and a half times what you’d pay on a normal bus route.

There are a few ways to get a taxi in Russia. Flagging one down in the street is one option, and often cheaper, but it’s also the least safe way – sometimes, random cars or unlicensed cabs will offer you a ride. On these occasions, it’s usually best to politely decline.

Otherwise, Russia has several apps for hailing a taxi. Yandex taxi in Moscow, for example, starts at 139 p. and charge 8 p.–19 p. per kilometer or 10 p. per minute.

If you want to drive in Russia, the average cost of a Volkswagen Golf is 1,500,000 p., while a Toyota Corolla Sedan will set you back 1,700,000 p.

Leisure activities in Russia

Clothing in Russia

The price of clothing in Russia is similar to elsewhere in Europe. A pair of mid-range jeans costs 6,500 p., while a dress from a chain store costs about 3,500 p. These costs are about the same in most major Russian cities. A pair of business shoes will set you back about 7,000 p.

Sports in Russia

A pair of running shoes in Moscow costs about 6,500 p. Once it gets colder, you might consider buying a gym membership – this goes for around 1,500 to 5,500.

Taxation and social security in Russia

All employees, including self-employed individuals, pay taxes. Residents pay 13% or 15% personal income tax in Russia; residency is defined as anyone living in Russia for at least 183 days in a tax year. Non-residents pay 30%.

If you receive any income from outside of Russia, you still need to pay tax when living in Russia. However, non-residents only pay tax on their income earned in Russia. Residents also pay tax on overseas revenue.

Russian law obliges local companies to subtract employee tax from salaries, but international organisations are excused from this requirement. Therefore, you have to file tax returns.

Self-employed individuals make advance tax payments several times each year. The frequency is based on the cost of your tax returns. You can download tax declaration forms from the website and the offices of the Russian Tax Inspectorate.

Corporate tax is payable at a flat rate of 20%. Capital gains tax for individuals is same as personal income tax.

The social security system in Russia is split into two parts: basic pension and insurance. Pension contributions differ depending on your age.

Assistance with living costs

The social welfare system in Russia allows residents of Russia to receive financial help in certain circumstances.

Maternity benefits are arranged with your employer and depend on how long you have been working and how much you earn. You can receive a lump sum when your child is born, and monthly benefits for your child thereafter.

To receive unemployment benefits, in most cases, you need to apply online. You can receive benefits for three to 12 months depending on your situation.