Cost of living in Russia
Summary of cost of living in Russia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: руб 220,389
- Single person estimated monthly costs: руб 116,836
- Russia is the 2nd cheapest country in Eastern Europe (11 out of 12)
- Cost of living in Russia is cheaper than in 84% of countries in the World (47 out of 56)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | руб 554 | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | руб 382 | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | руб 218 | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | руб 87 | ||
12 eggs, large | руб 138 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | руб 208 | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | руб 420 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | руб 129 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | руб 59 | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | руб 85 | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | руб 689 | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | руб 181 | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | руб 42 | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | руб 103,905 | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | руб 59,087 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | руб 7,789 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | руб 54,275 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | руб 33,384 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | руб 5,450 | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | руб 971 | ||
40” flat screen tv | руб 20,501 | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | руб 7,224 | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | руб 548 | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | руб 618 | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | руб 6,816 | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | руб 3,176 | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | руб 7,907 | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | руб 6,921 | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | руб 2,485,230 | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | руб 57 | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | руб 2,259 | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | руб 270 | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | руб 515 | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | руб 1,977 | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | руб 320 | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | руб 187 | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | руб 172 | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | руб 123 | ||
Tube of toothpaste | руб 132 | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | руб 589 | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | руб 1,593 | ||
2 tickets to the movies | руб 680 | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | руб 6,005 | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | руб 3,237 | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | руб 473 | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | руб 177 | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | руб 236 | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | руб 50,539 | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | руб 23 | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | руб 3,349 | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | руб 197 |
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 | 82 |
2nd | Perm | 41 |
3rd | Voronezh | 41 |
4th | Chelyabinsk | 40 |
5th | Omsk | 40 |
6th | Tomsk | 36 |
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 Vladivostok is 13% cheaper than in Port Louis
- Cost of living in Moscow is 41% more expensive than in Chişinău
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 61% cheaper than in Vienna
- Cost of living in Moscow is 35% cheaper than in Warsaw
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 16% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Moscow is 40% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Moscow is about the same as in Phan Thiết
- Cost of living in Moscow is 29% more expensive than in Kyiv
- Cost of living in Moscow is 63% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Moscow is 58% cheaper than in Havana
- Cost of living in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is 42% more expensive than in Ilorin
- Cost of living in Vladivostok is about the same as in Brahmapur
- Cost of living in Rostov-on-Don is 81% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 5% cheaper than in Osasco
- Cost of living in Tyumen' is 29% cheaper than in Vidin
- Cost of living in Yekaterinburg is 39% cheaper than in Iowa City, Iowa
- Cost of living in Saint Petersburg is 68% cheaper than in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Cost of living in Volgograd is 44% cheaper than in Cluj-Napoca
- Cost of living in Tyumen' is 50% more expensive than in Syeverodonets'k
- Cost of living in Volgograd is 10% cheaper than in Jammu
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Moscow costs руб 75,000 (3 days ago)
- 1 kg of potatoes in Kazan' costs руб 80 (3 days ago)
- 1 kg of apples in Kazan' costs руб 100 (3 days ago)
- 250 g of local cheese in Kazan' costs руб 200 (3 days ago)
- 1 kg of tomatoes in Kazan' costs руб 200 (3 days ago)
- 10 eggs, large in Kazan' costs руб 120 (3 days ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Kazan' costs руб 100 (3 days ago)
- 1 kg of boneless chicken breast in Kazan' costs руб 200 (3 days ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Kazan' costs руб 800 (3 days ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Kazan' costs руб 2,000 (3 days ago)