Cost Of Living For a Student in Russia 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: RUB
Average monthly spending for students in Russia
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Russia?
Students in Russia spend around 51,000 RUB per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 7,700 RUB or as high as 340,000 RUB. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Russia
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
| 350 RUB | 520 RUB | 1,000 RUB |
Fine dining meal for one
| 690 RUB | 1,000 RUB | 4,200 RUB |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 520 RUB | 690 RUB | 1,400 RUB |
Average car 1-day rental
| 520 RUB | 690 RUB | 1,000 RUB |
Average car price
| 260,000 RUB | 520,000 RUB | 690,000 RUB |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 690 RUB | 1,000 RUB | 2,100 RUB |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 310 RUB | 2,000 RUB | 14,000 RUB |
Internet and cable
| 520 RUB | 1,000 RUB | 1,400 RUB |
Mobile phone charges
| 420 RUB | 690 RUB | 2,100 RUB |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 830 RUB | 1,000 RUB | 2,100 RUB |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 610 RUB | 870 RUB | 1,300 RUB |
Woman dress
| 580 RUB | 800 RUB | 2,600 RUB |
Woman shoes
| 550 RUB | 740 RUB | 1,700 RUB |
Men's shoes
| 470 RUB | 580 RUB | 1,200 RUB |
Men suit
| 520 RUB | 650 RUB | 3,500 RUB |
Regular t-shirt
| 260 RUB | 350 RUB | 1,000 RUB |
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 8,700 RUB | 13,000 RUB | 35,000 RUB |
1-bedroom apartment
| 13,000 RUB | 21,000 RUB | 52,000 RUB |
2-bedroom apartment
| 17,000 RUB | 26,000 RUB | 69,000 RUB |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 1.7M RUB | 2.6M RUB | 5.2M RUB |
1-bedroom apartment
| 2.1M RUB | 3.5M RUB | 13M RUB |
2-bedroom apartment
| $38,000 | $110,000 | $230,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 10,000 RUB | 13,000 RUB | 17,000 RUB |
Double Bed
| 6,900 RUB | 10,000 RUB | 13,000 RUB |
Single Bed
| 6,100 RUB | 8,000 RUB | 10,000 RUB |
Living Room
| 12,000 RUB | 15,000 RUB | 52,000 RUB |
Dining Table
| 5,200 RUB | 6,900 RUB | 13,000 RUB |
Sofa or Couch
| 6,900 RUB | 9,500 RUB | 21,000 RUB |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 6,900 RUB | 10,000 RUB | 21,000 RUB |
Fridge or Freezer
| 6,100 RUB | 9,500 RUB | 13,000 RUB |
Washing Machine
| 8,000 RUB | 12,000 RUB | 21,000 RUB |
Stove or Cooker
| 7,400 RUB | 9,500 RUB | 13,000 RUB |
Mobile Phone
| 8,700 RUB | 10,000 RUB | 15,000 RUB |
Laptop or Computer
| 9,500 RUB | 12,000 RUB | 21,000 RUB |
How do students spend their money in Russia?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost20%
20% of total expenses on average (15% to 26%)
| LOW | $20 1,900 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $130 12,000 RUB |
| HIGH | $900 81,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
Students in Russia typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 12,000 RUB with expenditure ranging from 1,900 RUB to 81,000 RUB. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $3.4 310 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $22 2,000 RUB |
| HIGH | $150 14,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Russia ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,000 RUB with 310 RUB and 14,000 RUB being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $6 540 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $39 3,600 RUB |
| HIGH | $260 24,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 540 RUB to 24,000 RUB in a month on commuting with 3,600 RUB being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $17 1,500 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $110 10,000 RUB |
| HIGH | $750 68,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Russia is 10,000 RUB. The cost of groceries can range between 1,500 RUB to 68,000 RUB. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $5.1 460 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $34 3,100 RUB |
| HIGH | $220 20,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
Students in Russia allocate 5% to 11% 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 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 460 RUB to 20,000 RUB with 3,100 RUB being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | $4.3 390 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $28 2,500 RUB |
| HIGH | $190 17,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 390 RUB to 17,000 RUB with 2,500 RUB being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $16 1,500 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $110 9,700 RUB |
| HIGH | $710 65,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 9,700 RUB per month with 1,500 RUB being the minimum spent amount and 65,000 RUB being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $13 1,200 RUB |
| AVERAGE | $84 7,600 RUB |
| HIGH | $560 51,000 RUB |
| Per Month |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Russia
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Russia?
Around 61% of surveyed students think that living in Russia is affordable with proper budgeting while 39% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes59%
No41%
Based on the survey, 41% of the students living in Russia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 59% said that they do.
Low-cost alternatives in Russia
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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options58%
Few low-cost options42%
Based on the survey, 58% of the students living in Russia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 42% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Financial Literacy in
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 student guardians and parents in Russia 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 students of 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Russia
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Russia
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 8,700 RUB | 13,000 RUB | 35,000 RUB |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 13,000 RUB | 21,000 RUB | 52,000 RUB |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 17,000 RUB | 26,000 RUB | 69,000 RUB |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 21,000 RUB | 35,000 RUB | 95,000 RUB |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 42,000 RUB | 100,000 RUB | 210,000 RUB |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 35,000 RUB | 52,000 RUB | 150,000 RUB |
House monthly rent cost
| 42,000 RUB | 100,000 RUB | 210,000 RUB |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 52,000 RUB | 130,000 RUB | 210,000 RUB |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Russia ranges between 8,700 RUB and 35,000 RUB, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 13,000 RUB to 52,000 RUB. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 17,000 RUB and 69,000 RUB per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 21,000 RUB to 95,000 RUB. The average rent of a townhouse in Russia is around 52,000 RUB while house rental costs can be as high as 100,000 RUB per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 52,000 RUB to 210,000 RUB per month.
Apartment and house prices in Russia
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 1.7M RUB | 2.6M RUB | 5.2M RUB |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 2.1M RUB | 3.5M RUB | 13M RUB |
2-bedroom apartment price
| $38,000 | $110,000 | $230,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $130,000 | $190,000 | $570,000 |
Townhouse price
House price
| 17M RUB | 100M RUB | 150M RUB |
Villa price
| 21M RUB | 120M RUB | 170M RUB |
The average price of a studio apartment in Russia can range from 1.7M RUB to 5.2M RUB depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2.1M RUB to 13M RUB. A villa can cost you 120M RUB on average with prices ranging from 21M RUB to 170M RUB.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Russia will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 39 | x114 monthly income | 208 |
Property prices in Russia can be x114 to x208 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x114 multiples of the average monthly salary in Russia.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Russia is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
29% 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.
| 150 RUB | 2,000 RUB | 20,000 RUB |
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 Russia
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Russia
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 310 RUB | 2,000 RUB | 14,000 RUB |
Internet and cable cost
| 520 RUB | 1,000 RUB | 1,400 RUB |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 420 RUB | 690 RUB | 2,100 RUB |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 2,000 RUB. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 520 RUB to 1,400 RUB with 1,000 RUB being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 690 RUB but can range between 420 RUB and 2,100 RUB depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Russia is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Russia
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Russia
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Russia is approximatly 210 RUB with meal cost ranging from 100 RUB to 350 RUB. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
| 350 RUB | 520 RUB | 1,000 RUB |
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 350 RUB and 1,000 RUB with 520 RUB being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Russia.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 690 RUB | 1,000 RUB | 4,200 RUB |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 690 RUB to 4,200 RUB with the average cost being 1,000 RUB for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Russia.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Russia is around 140 RUB. Price ranges between 87 RUB and 210 RUB depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Russia is 83 RUB. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 100 RUB and the minimum being 69 RUB depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 69 RUB on average with 52 RUB and 100 RUB being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Russia is between 120 RUB and 220 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
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 210 RUB. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Russia costs around 77 RUB on average with prices rangeing between 56 RUB and 110 RUB depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 21 RUB to 52 RUB. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 49 RUB on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 1,500 RUB to 68,000 RUB with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
