Is living in Russia cheap?
Expats in Russia will find the cost of living to be reasonable. In Mercer's Cost of Living survey for 2021, Moscow was ranked 62nd out of 209 cities, while St Petersburg was ranked 119th. Although Russia cannot be regarded as a cheap country to live in, as a whole, it is more affordable than many western countries.
General cost of living and standards of living in Russia
According to the Russian government, the minimum cost of living is 11,653 p., including housing, food, and other services. In Moscow, this rises to 20,195 p. Realistically, you will need to budget more than this.
1 USD = 68.946496 RUB Jan 18, 2023 17:15 UTC
Check the currency rates against all the world currencies here.
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Russia Gasoline prices, 09-Jan-2023.
Russia Gasoline prices | Litre | Gallon |
---|---|---|
USD | 0.741 | 2.805 |
EUR | 0.690 | 2.612 |
Restaurants | Edit |
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Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 69.45руб |
Water (12 oz small bottle) | 35.67руб |
Markets | Edit |
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 288.91руб |
What you can bring into Russia: Money: Any currency and travelers cheques if the total value does not exceed 10000 USD. Otherwise, you will need to declare the amount, so when you leave the country you can prove that you are not taking money out of Russia. The money on your bank card doesn't have to be declared.
American paper currency come in seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. The United States no longer issues bills in larger denominations, such as $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills. But they are still legal tender and may still be in circulation.
Russia's currency is the Russian ruble. You can bring dollars or euros for exchange, but it's best if you are able to withdraw locally using a bank machine. There are plenty ATMs around, therefore you don't really need to take much cash with you.
Russia Monthly Earnings stood at 1,026 USD in Oct 2022, compared with the previous figure of 1,035 USD in Sep 2022 See the table below for more data.
Can I use my American credit card in Russia?
While Russian banks have downplayed the impact so far, suggesting that shoppers will be able to use cards issued by Visa or Mastercard till expiry, the networks have said that any cards issued abroad won't work in Russia. Globally, barring China, Visa and Mastercard control nearly 90% of credit and debit card payments.
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C. Location.
City | Average Monthly Salary (in Russian Rubles) |
---|---|
Dagestan | 29,000 RUB |
Pskov | 25,925 RUB |
![Is living in Russia cheap? (2025)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fyRg_PPca5g/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLAaUrFp84WdpuJinlTYZOgqDcGi6A)
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Russia - Big Mac menu - price, September 2020.
Russia - Big Mac menu - price, September 2020 | |
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RUB | 225.000 |
USD | 3.409 |
EUR | 3.147 |
Go for a four-pack of yogurt (about 25 rubles per cup), a loaf of bread (20 rubles), or bottled water (15 - 100 rubles).
- A carton or bottle of milk – about 80-100 rubles;
- A carton of eggs – about 70-100 rubles;
- A loaf of bread – about 40-60 rubles, depending on the store (see below);
- A kilogram of bananas / oranges / apples – about 80/90/100 rubles respectively (on discount);
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Russia - Coca-Cola - price, September 2022.
Russia - Coca-Cola - price, September 2022 | |
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RUB | 55.000 |
USD | 0.800 |
EUR | 0.741 |
Coffee: 65 - ₽ 150 ( US$ 2.10).
Prices: At a modest restaurant, you can expect to pay about 500 roubles ($8) for a meal; at a mid-range restaurant, a three-course meal will cost around 2000 roubles ($35). A Business lunch option which includes a multi-course meal and a drink is offered at many restaurants – usually between 300-500 roubles.
In Russia, you pay your electricity bills according to meter readings. The cost for installing and maintaining electricity meters is the responsibility of energy companies, and the data is transmitted automatically to the supplier. Electricity costs in Russia are significantly lower than elsewhere in Europe.
The current minimum wage in Russia is RUB16,242.00 per month in 2023. It became valid on January 1, 2023. The amounts are in Russian Ruble.
Does Russia have Social security?
The social security system in Russia incorporates various forms of government support intended to provide adequate standard of living and improve the quality of life of the particular categories of citizens, including those from vulnerable groups.
U.S. citizens should not travel to Russia and those residing or travelling in Russia should depart Russia immediately while limited commercial travel options remain. The Department of State provides information on commercial travel on the Information for U.S.
STAT | Russia |
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Prices at markets > Loaf of bread > Fresh, white | $0.68 Ranked 111th. |
Prices at markets > Milk > 1 litre | $1.11 Ranked 98th. 12% more than United States |
Prices at markets > Rice > White, 1kg | $1.22 Ranked 106th. |
Prices at markets > Water > 1.5 litre bottle | $0.88 Ranked 79th. |
Tunisia. One U.S. dollar is worth roughly 2.96 Tunisian dinar (as of Mar. 8, 2022). The North African country boasts a Mediterranean coastline, access to the Sahara desert, and is across the sea from Italy and France.
- Argentina. Places where the dollar goes far are also the most beautiful! ...
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- Vietnam. ...
- Peru. ...
- Costa Rica. ...
- Canada. ...
- Puerto Rico.
- Vietnam. Phu Quoc, Vietnam. ...
- Mexico. Credit: © Jonathan Ross | Dreamstime.com. ...
- Thailand. Credit: Bigstock.com. ...
- Chile. Torres del Paine National Park. ...
- Belize. Ambergris Caye. ...
- Jamaica. Credit: Lucky-photographer/shutterstock.com. ...
- Argentina. ...
- Hungary.
But Russia's major banks have already downplayed the impact the move will have on consumers. Shoppers will still be able to use the cards for purchases within Russia until they reach their expiry dates. But Visa, Mastercard or American Express cards issued abroad will no longer work at shops or ATMs in Russia.
500 US Dollar = 34085.45 Russian Ruble (RUB)
10X in 2022?
You are entitled to import/export unlimited cash into Russia, but sums over $10000 should be declared at customs. This applies to all foreign currencies and to rubles, with the exact quantities varying slightly from currency to currency.
What is a good paying job in Russia?
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Careers with the highest average monthly salary in Russia in 2022 (in 1,000 Russian rubles)
Characteristic | Average monthly salary in thousand Russian rubles |
---|---|
Surgeon | 386 |
Judge | 324 |
Lawyer | 262 |
Bank manager | 247 |
Based on a 40-hour work week, the minimum wage in Russia per hour is around 70.50 p.
On average, doctors in Russia earned approximately 92.5 thousand Russian rubles per month in 2021. In Moscow, the figure was significantly higher, measuring at roughly 168.4 thousand Russian rubles.
Under Russian law (Russian Government Order #1396 of 12/15/1999), U.S. citizens bearing Russian visas may use a valid U.S. driver's license to drive a car in Russia provided that a certified Russian translation of it is available.
JPMorgan and Citigroup also have transaction and treasury services businesses in Russia. They provide cash management, trade services and finance to multinational companies doing business in Russia.
Citigroup, the biggest U.S. bank in Russia, will pull out more business.
Minimum Wages in Russia increased to 15279 RUB/Month (233.203 USD/Month) in 2022. The maximum rate of minimum wage for employees was 12792 RUB/Month and minimum was 132 RUB/Month. Data published Yearly by Federal State Statistics Service.
Russians highly value stability and security. As Geert Hofstede has said, “[they] feel very much threatened by ambiguous situations”, an attitude reaffirmed by their recent history. People are more comfortable with assured stability and tend to approach situations with scepticism and caution rather than taking risks.
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Countries by number and percentage of millionaires.
Country or subnational area | Russia * |
---|---|
Number of millionaires | 352,801 |
Share of global millionaires (%) | 0.6 |
Percentage of millionaires (% of adult population) | 0.3 |
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Russia - Bananas - price, September 2022.
Russia - Bananas - price, September 2022 | |
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RUB | 73.000 |
USD | 1.007 |
EUR | 0.944 |
How much is KFC in Russia?
KFC used to be one of the leading fast-food chains in the Russian market. AmRest operates 215 outlets, primarily in the largest Russian cities. In total, more than 1,000 KFC restaurants operated in the country at the beginning of 2022.
June 12 (Reuters) - It might look and smell like McDonald's but now it's Vkusno & tochka. The golden arches are gone, the Filet-O-Fish is simply a fish burger. The Big Mac has left Russia.
Food | |
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Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | руб 41,201 |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | руб 26,168 |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | руб 5,901 |
1 RUB = 0.014535 USD Jan 18, 2023 13:15 UTC
Check the currency rates against all the world currencies here.
Many don't know that Russia can be relatively cheap when compared to other tourist destinations. Of course, there are many things to consider when budgeting for your trip, including: The cost of the air ticket and relevant Russian travel visa. The type of accommodation you prefer as well as eating out.
- Highest: 73.997 RUB on 29 Dec 2022.
- Average: 62.747 RUB over this period.
- Lowest: 57.869 RUB on 25 Sep 2022.
United States is 2.2 times more expensive than Russia.
Generally, Russia is a fairly safe country to live in, although it is important to take basic safety precautions and remain aware of your surroundings.
Characteristic | Price in thousand Russian rubles per square meter |
---|---|
Moscow | 300.38 |
Sochi | 241.84 |
Saint Petersburg | 210.21 |
Kazan | 148.59 |
What is the average Russian wage?
In 2021, the average nominal salary in Russia was measured at approximately 57.2 thousand Russian rubles per month, marking an increase of 5.9 thousand Russian rubles compared to the previous year.
Latest data on Gasoline Prices (USD/Liter)
Gasoline Price in Russia remained unchanged at 0.74 USD/Liter in December 2022. The maximum price per litre was 1 USD/Liter and minimum was 0.28 USD/Liter.
Americans are significantly happier than Russians, according to the UN's World Happiness Report 2018. Looking at indicators such as income, life expectancy, freedom to make decisions and social support, the US ranked 18th of 156 countries, while Russia was 59th.
In addition, in terms of safe living conditions, Russia lags behind the US significantly. According to 2022 estimates, there are 580,466 homeless people in the US, compared to 64,000 in the case of Russia.
Permanent Residence: Foreign citizens intending to permanently reside in Russia can obtain a permanent residence permit (vid na zhitelstvo) valid for five years that may be extended an unlimited number of times. Foreigners may apply for it at the local FMS based on their at least one-year residence in Russia.
The current minimum wage in Russia is RUB16,242.00 per month in 2023. It became valid on January 1, 2023. The amounts are in Russian Ruble.
Ranked 73rd. In short, Russia is ranked 2nd out of 140 in military strength while the US is ranked 1st. As per the army population, Russia has 142,320,790 soldiers while The US has 334,998,398 soldiers. The available manpower is 69,737,187 with Russia and 147,399,295 with the United States.
Since 1996, Russia's constitution has provided citizens and residents with the right to free healthcare. This is provided by the state through the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (also called the OMI or Obligatory Medical Insurance). It is funded through payroll and employer contributions.
Not only foreign citizens are allowed to buy properties in Russia, but foreign companies are also allowed to buy real estate for commercial use.
Average weekly working hours in Russia quarterly 2020-2022
On average, Russians aged 15 years and older worked 37.5 hours per week in the third quarter of 2022, marking a decrease from the previous quarter. In general, the mean working time decreased over the course of 2021.
What jobs are most common in Russia?
The service sector accounts for over half of all jobs in Russia, with retail, tourism, health, and education among the most important service segments. Mining, manufacturing, and construction are the biggest industrial sectors.