Cost Of Living For a Student in Yekaterinburg 2024

Average monthly spending for students in Yekaterinburg

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Yekaterinburg?

Students in Yekaterinburg spend around 56,000 RUB per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 8,500 RUB or as high as 370,000 RUB. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Yekaterinburg?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Yekaterinburg typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 13,000 RUB with expenditure ranging from 2,000 RUB to 89,000 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

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Yekaterinburg ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,200 RUB with 340 RUB and 15,000 RUB being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

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 590 RUB to 26,000 RUB in a month on commuting with 3,900 RUB being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Yekaterinburg is 11,000 RUB. The cost of groceries can range between 1,700 RUB to 74,000 RUB. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Yekaterinburg allocate 6% to 12% 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 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 510 RUB to 22,000 RUB with 3,300 RUB being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 420 RUB to 19,000 RUB with 2,800 RUB being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 11,000 RUB per month with 1,600 RUB being the minimum spent amount and 71,000 RUB being the maximum.

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 Yekaterinburg

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Yekaterinburg?

Around 67% of surveyed students think that living in Yekaterinburg is affordable with proper budgeting while 33% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Yekaterinburg

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 options64%

Few low-cost options37%

Based on the survey, 64% of the students living in Yekaterinburg have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 37% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

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 of Yekaterinburg whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes65%

No35%

Based on the survey, 35% of the students living in Yekaterinburg said that they don't have an emergency fund while 65% 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 student guardians and parents in Yekaterinburg 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 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%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Yekaterinburg

Rent Cost in Yekaterinburg

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

9,500 RUB

14,000 RUB

38,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100

$160

$420

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

14,000 RUB

23,000 RUB

57,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160

$250

$630

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

19,000 RUB

29,000 RUB

76,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$310

$840

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

23,000 RUB

38,000 RUB

100,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$420

$1,100

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

46,000 RUB

110,000 RUB

230,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500

$1,300

$2,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

38,000 RUB

57,000 RUB

160,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420

$630

$1,800

House monthly rent cost

46,000 RUB

110,000 RUB

230,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500

$1,300

$2,500

Villa monthly rent cost

57,000 RUB

140,000 RUB

230,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$630

$1,600

$2,500

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Yekaterinburg ranges between 9,500 RUB and 38,000 RUB, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 14,000 RUB to 57,000 RUB. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 19,000 RUB and 76,000 RUB per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 23,000 RUB to 100,000 RUB. The average rent of a townhouse in Yekaterinburg is around 57,000 RUB while house rental costs can be as high as 110,000 RUB per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 57,000 RUB to 230,000 RUB per month.

Apartment and house prices in Yekaterinburg

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.9M RUB

2.9M RUB

5.7M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21,000

$31,000

$63,000

1-bedroom apartment price

2.3M RUB

3.8M RUB

14M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25,000

$42,000

$160,000

2-bedroom apartment price

3.8M RUB

11M RUB

23M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42,000

$130,000

$250,000

3-bedroom apartment price

13M RUB

19M RUB

57M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$210,000

$630,000

Townhouse price

16M RUB

38M RUB

140M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180,000

$420,000

$1.6M

House price

19M RUB

110M RUB

160M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$1.3M

$1.8M

Villa price

23M RUB

130M RUB

190M RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250,000

$1.4M

$2.1M

The average price of a studio apartment in Yekaterinburg can range from 1.9M RUB to 5.7M RUB depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2.3M RUB to 14M RUB. A villa can cost you 130M RUB on average with prices ranging from 23M RUB to 190M RUB.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Yekaterinburg can be x125 to x228 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x125 multiples of the average monthly salary in Yekaterinburg.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Yekaterinburg is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 45% 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 Yekaterinburg

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

340 RUB

2,200 RUB

15,000 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.7

$25

$160

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 students is around 2,200 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 Yekaterinburg is around 5.5%. This means that people pay 5.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.2% to 9.9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Yekaterinburg

Prices and cost of goods and services in Yekaterinburg

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 Yekaterinburg 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

360 RUB

530 RUB

1,100 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.9

$5.9

$12

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 360 RUB and 1,100 RUB with 530 RUB being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Yekaterinburg.

Fine dining meal for one price

710 RUB

1,100 RUB

4,300 RUB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.8

$12

$47

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 710 RUB to 4,300 RUB with the average cost being 1,100 RUB for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Yekaterinburg.

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 Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg is around 29%. This means that students spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students