Cost of Living in Russia

Updated: April 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Russia, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Russia?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Russia and whether the reported $1667 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $879.09.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Russia

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	10.87 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	45.84 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	6.79 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	2.55 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.4 $
Cappuccino (regular)	2.73 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	1.16 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.61 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	1.31 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	0.81 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.83 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.84 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	12.18 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.63 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	10.67 $
Apples (1 lb)	1.99 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.58 $
Oranges (1 lb)	1.91 $
Tomato (1 lb)	3.0 $
Potato (1 lb)	1.01 $
Onion (1 lb)	0.84 $
Lettuce (1 head)	1.42 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.8 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	10.19 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.2 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	2.29 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	3.23 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	0.59 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	35.65 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	2.04 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	0.34 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	6.11 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	0.87 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	42444.82 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	39433.55 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	134.43 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.04 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	8.72 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	41.67 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	26.1 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	5.94 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	401.7 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	7999.54 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	95.86 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	58.47 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	118.16 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	133.93 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	554.95 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	388.37 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1046.93 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	702.66 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	3382.16 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	2141.96 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	879.09 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	10.47 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 10.87 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 45.84 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.31 USD, a loaf of bread 0.81 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.84 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.59 USD and a monthly pass around 35.65 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 134.43 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 41.67 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 26.1 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 401.7 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 7999.54 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 95.86 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 118.16 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 554.95 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 388.37 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 3382.16 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 2141.96 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 879.09 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 10.47% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Russia

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Generally speaking, Russia today is safe as much as other countries in Europe, despite its problematic history with criminal activity in the 90s. However, if you’re planning on traveling to Russia, keep in mind that you should avoid regions close to the Ukraine border, this is not recommended, because of the high level of risk and unstable situation in the region of Donetsk, Lugansk, and Kharkiv.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Generally speaking, transportation in Russia is safe, but you should bear in mind that kidnappings have been known to happen, mostly in unlicensed taxis, so be careful when hailing one on the streets. Keep in mind that the most dangerous areas where small crime tends to occur are the underground walkways, called “perekhods”. Only use official services like Yandex Taxi, Uber or Gett taxi.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpocketing is very common in Russia, and surprisingly it is mostly performed by groups of children. Pay attention to your belongings, don’t leave them in plain sight and be especially careful in crowded places like stations or near tourist attractions.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Russia isn’t particularly susceptible to natural disasters. Some blizzards are possible during winter which can cause affect the traffic and delay your flights. Also, in areas near Mongolia and Kazakhstan, earthquakes can happen sporadically.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Kidnappings for political reasons have happened in the North Caucasus, and there have been reports of foreigners being attacked there. Generally, never accept free drinks or food when you’re in a club or a bar. Drink spiking and then attacking and robbing the victim have been reported on numerous occasions.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

Recent military interventions in Syria have caused high terrorism activity in the areas of Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, the south-east part of Stavropol bordering Chechnya, Gabardine-Balkaria (including the Mount Elbrus area), and Karachay-Cherkessia. Apart from that, terrorist attacks have recently taken place in St. Petersburg.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There is a world-known scam typical for Russia: scamming people through dating websites. When the victim gets to know a person from Russia via a dating website, and the relationship develops, the victim is asked by his/her (usually men are the victims here) partner to transfer some money to the country where the future partner lives, to make her/his trip to the victim’s country possible. After the money is transferred, the relationship ends. As for scams on the streets, you should avoid playing street gambling games.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are generally safe in Russia, though you should avoid finding yourself alone in clubs or bars, and of course, apply all normal precaution measures like avoiding remote and poorly lit streets and areas.

Cost of Living in Russia

Russia

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing