The average cost of living in Russia for families can be anywhere from 30,000 rubles to 35,000 rubles per month, excluding utilities. While Moscow and Saint Petersburg are relatively expensive to live in, Novosibirsk is one of the cities in Russia with low cost of living.
According to Russian law, foreigners are usually allowed to purchase or rent property in Russia, but certain exceptions apply. Also, in order to be allowed to buy a property, the foreign citizen must hold a valid Russian resident permit.
Cost of living in United States is 126% more expensive than in Russia.
What is average wage in Russia? Average Wages in Russia increased to 71334 RUB/Month (869.847 USD/Month) in March 2023. The maximum rate of average wage for employees was 69278 RUB/Month and minimum was 0 RUB/Month. Data published Monthly by Ministry for Economic Development.
The Russian parliament is considering draft Bill No. 307392-8, which provides for an increase in the minimum wage from RUB 15,279 per month to RUB 19,242 per month with effect from 1 January 2024.
The share of Russians who own an apartment or a house is relatively high and amounts to about 54 percent. About 11 percent reside in a rented apartment or house. The rest live with their relatives or friends. There are several major types of apartment blocks common in Russia.
Foreign citizens wanting to live in Russia are required to apply for a Russian residence permit. The Russian authorities issue two types of residence permits for foreign citizens: temporary residence permits and permanent residence permits.
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.
Rental costs in Russia
According to Numbeo, a one-bedroom flat in the center of Moscow costs 50,000 p. to 100,000 p. Meanwhile, outside the city center, prices are, on average, 40,000 p. For a three-bedroom apartment in Moscow city center, you can expect to pay about 145,000 or 75,000 on the outskirts.
Russian property tax is paid by the owners at a maximum rate of 2% of the value of the property, depending on the value of the property as determined on 1 January: Lower than 300,000 p: 0.1% 300,000–500,000 p: 0.1 to 0.3%
A 100 ruble bill, which equals about 1.5 USD or 1.3 Euro today, probably won't buy you a decent cup of coffee in St. Petersburg, but it can go surprisingly a long way. The easiest place to get the most bang for your ruble is the grocery store.
- CON: Weather
As Russia is such a large country, the weather varies dramatically. No matter where in the country they live though, expats must prepare themselves and adapt their lifestyles for long, cold winters, and shorter spring, summer and autumn seasons. Winters can be harsh.
The price is 0.70 USD. The average price for all countries is 0.93 USD. The database includes 91 countries.
Expats rated Russia 49th in quality of life, 48th in ease of settling in and 47th in personal finance. Russia had a poor quality of life rating due to expats expressing unhappiness with Russia's climate and weather as well as its air quality, water and sanitation infrastructure.
The Russian passport is currently ranked 53rd among global passports, according to the Guide Passport Ranking Index.
If overstaying and trying to leave more than three days after the date listed on the exit visa, the Russian authorities will insist the visitor stay in the country until a new visa has been applied for and approved.
The Russian Federation offers U.S. nationals the opportunity to apply for a three year multiple entry visa. To be eligible for consideration, the traveler must have a passport valid for at least three and a half years beyond date of first entry into Russia with at least two blank pages.
Russia usually follows a bi-monthly payment cycle. Salaries must be paid to Russian employees at least once every half month. The date of compensation is usually predetermined in the employment contract.
Many traditional homes are built of wood and have a peaked roof and window frames decorated with carvings. “Izba”, single-story wooden cottages, are the traditional Russian dwelling. They are still common in the countryside. They have"wooden window frames and eaves and small kitchen gardens.
Average Household Size in Russia
Russia had an average household size of 2.46 people in 2021. The indicator recorded a year-on-year decline of 0.4% in 2021. Between 2010 and 2021, the indicator decreased by 6.1%.
The average hourly wage in Russia is 600 RUB or USD 8.09 (US Dollars), and the hourly minimum wage is 150 RUB (USD 2.01). Russia has a median salary of 110,000 RUB per month (USD 1,472.90). This means that half of the population earns less than 110,000 RUB while the other half earns more than 110,000 RUB.
The majority of Russians, as per 45 percent of the polled respondents, were paying between 5 and 15 thousand Russian rubles per month for rented housing as of July 2019. Over 20 thousand Russian rubles for the residential rental fee was submitted by 17 percent of the surveyed population.