Cost Of Living For a Family in Saratov 2024

Average monthly spending for families in Saratov

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Saratov?

Families in Saratov spend around 140,000 RUB per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 49,000 RUB or as high as 900,000 RUB. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Saratov

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Saratov

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Saratov spend around 79% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 71% of their income while some as high as 87%.

How do families spend their money in Saratov?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Saratov typically spend from 20% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 44,000 RUB with expenditure ranging from 16,000 RUB to 290,000 RUB. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Saratov ranges from 4% to 9% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 6,900 RUB with 2,400 RUB and 45,000 RUB being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 4,900 RUB to 90,000 RUB in a month on commuting with 14,000 RUB being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 7%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Saratov is 25,000 RUB. The cost of groceries can range between 8,700 RUB to 160,000 RUB. Families spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Saratov allocate 7% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 4,400 RUB to 72,000 RUB with 14,000 RUB being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 2,400 RUB to 45,000 RUB with 6,900 RUB being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 19,000 RUB per month with 6,800 RUB being the minimum spent amount and 130,000 RUB being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Saratov are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 48% of surveyed families in Saratov said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 52% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 9.8% to 26% of their monthly income to their savings, with 17% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 48,000 RUB with 17,000 RUB and 310,000 RUB being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Saratov

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Saratov. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 13% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 21% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Saratov

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Saratov

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Saratov?

Around 55% of surveyed families think that living in Saratov is affordable with proper budgeting while 45% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Saratov

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options52%

Few low-cost options48%

Based on the survey, 52% of the families living in Saratov have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 48% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Saratov whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes53%

No47%

Based on the survey, 47% of the families living in Saratov said that they don't have an emergency fund while 53% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Russia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy56%

We asked family guardians and parents in Saratov whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 44% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 56% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Russia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 40% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 60% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance40%

Easily manages finances60%

Financial goals of families in Saratov

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Saratov, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 43% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 6% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 14% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Saratov

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 25% of the families in Saratov have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 75% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Saratov

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 26% of a family's monthly income in Saratov goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Saratov pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 18% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 15% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 17% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 10% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Saratov

8% of debtors in Saratov confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 30% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 15% of people and personal loans rose at 43%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Saratov.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Saratov

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Saratov how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Saratov

Rent Cost in Saratov

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

7,800 RUB

12,000 RUB

31,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$85

$130

$340

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 RUB

19,000 RUB

47,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130

$210

$510

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

16,000 RUB

23,000 RUB

62,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$260

$680

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

19,000 RUB

31,000 RUB

85,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$340

$930

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

37,000 RUB

93,000 RUB

190,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410

$1,000

$2,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

31,000 RUB

47,000 RUB

130,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340

$510

$1,500

House monthly rent cost

37,000 RUB

93,000 RUB

190,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410

$1,000

$2,100

Villa monthly rent cost

47,000 RUB

120,000 RUB

190,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510

$1,300

$2,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Saratov ranges between 7,800 RUB and 31,000 RUB, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 12,000 RUB to 47,000 RUB. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 16,000 RUB and 62,000 RUB per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 19,000 RUB to 85,000 RUB. The average rent of a townhouse in Saratov is around 47,000 RUB while house rental costs can be as high as 93,000 RUB per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 47,000 RUB to 190,000 RUB per month.

Apartment and house prices in Saratov

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.6M RUB

2.3M RUB

4.7M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17,000

$26,000

$51,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1.9M RUB

3.1M RUB

12M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21,000

$34,000

$130,000

2-bedroom apartment price

3.1M RUB

9.3M RUB

19M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$34,000

$100,000

$210,000

3-bedroom apartment price

10M RUB

16M RUB

47M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$170,000

$510,000

Townhouse price

13M RUB

31M RUB

120M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$340,000

$1.3M

House price

16M RUB

93M RUB

130M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$1M

$1.5M

Villa price

19M RUB

100M RUB

160M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$1.1M

$1.7M

The average price of a studio apartment in Saratov can range from 1.6M RUB to 4.7M RUB depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.9M RUB to 12M RUB. A villa can cost you 100M RUB on average with prices ranging from 19M RUB to 160M RUB.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Saratov can be x102 to x186 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x102 multiples of the average monthly salary in Saratov.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Saratov is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 37% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Saratov

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Saratov

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

2,400 RUB

6,900 RUB

45,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$27

$76

$500

Internet and cable cost

500 RUB

990 RUB

1,300 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.5

$11

$15

Mobile phone bill and charges

400 RUB

660 RUB

2,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$7.3

$22

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 6,900 RUB. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 500 RUB to 1,300 RUB with 990 RUB being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 660 RUB but can range between 400 RUB and 2,000 RUB depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Saratov is around 4.5%. This means that people pay 4.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.8% to 8.1% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Saratov

Prices and cost of goods and services in Saratov

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

99 RUB

200 RUB

330 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$2.2

$3.6

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Saratov is approximatly 200 RUB with meal cost ranging from 99 RUB to 330 RUB. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

320 RUB

480 RUB

960 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.5

$5.3

$11

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 320 RUB and 960 RUB with 480 RUB being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Saratov.

Fine dining meal for one price

640 RUB

960 RUB

3,900 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.1

$11

$42

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 640 RUB to 3,900 RUB with the average cost being 960 RUB for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Saratov.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

83 RUB

130 RUB

200 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.91

$1.5

$2.2

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Saratov is around 130 RUB. Price ranges between 83 RUB and 200 RUB depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

66 RUB

80 RUB

99 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.73

$0.88

$1.1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Saratov is 80 RUB. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 99 RUB and the minimum being 66 RUB depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

50 RUB

66 RUB

99 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.55

$0.73

$1.1

A dozen eggs costs around 66 RUB on average with 50 RUB and 99 RUB being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

110 RUB

150 RUB

210 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.3

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Saratov is between 110 RUB and 210 RUB depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 150 RUB.

Pack of beef price

130 RUB

200 RUB

400 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$2.2

$4.4

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 200 RUB. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

53 RUB

73 RUB

100 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.59

$0.80

$1.1

A bag of rice in Saratov costs around 73 RUB on average with prices rangeing between 53 RUB and 100 RUB depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

20 RUB

27 RUB

50 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.22

$0.29

$0.55

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 20 RUB to 50 RUB. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

36 RUB

46 RUB

76 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.39

$0.51

$0.84

A bag of apples costs 46 RUB on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Saratov is around 23%. This means that families spend 23% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 16% to 29% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families