Living in Russia: cost of living, rents and the salary you need

Updated 2 October 2026

How much do you need to earn to live in Russia? Here are rents in the main cities, the minimum wage, healthcare, residence permits and moving costs, with the official source of every figure. For your own case, the calculator starts from your real budget, in your city, and moves it to Russia.

Work out my budget in Russia

Example: the same life, elsewhere

A single person living in London in a one-bedroom home, with the average spending of a similar household, spends about £3,350 a month. To keep the same life in Moscow, they would need about ₽119,000 (≈ €1,250) net a month locally (−68%), i.e. 3.4 times the Moscow minimum wage.

For a couple with two children in a two-bedroom home (private or international school), it would take about ₽365,000 (≈ €3,850) net a month in Moscow, i.e. 10.6 times the Moscow minimum wage.

Calculated on 2 October 2026 with the official averages of London and the destination’s prices. Yours depends on your city, home and habits: the calculator works it out in a few minutes, no sign-up.

Rents in Russia

City	Studio	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3-bedroom house	1 bedroom in euros
Moscow	₽61,200	₽74,300	₽107,000	₽157,000	€780
Saint Petersburg	₽40,800	₽50,300	₽72,700	₽106,000	€530
Kazan	₽26,700	₽32,600	₽47,200	₽68,900	€340
Novosibirsk	₽28,800	₽37,300	₽53,900	₽78,800	€390
Yekaterinburg	₽29,400	₽33,700	₽48,700	₽71,200	€360
Nizhny Novgorod	₽22,600	₽26,700	₽38,600	₽56,400	€280
Krasnodar	₽25,700	₽29,500	₽42,600	₽62,200	€310
Sochi	₽39,600	₽52,100	₽75,300	₽110,000	€550
Samara	₽22,200	₽25,800	₽37,200	₽54,400	€270

Monthly rent in RUB, outside the most sought-after areas. Studio 28 m², 1 bedroom 45 m², 2 bedrooms 65 m², house 95 m² where rent is known per m². Rosstat, average consumer prices for August 2026: renting a one-room and a two-room flat from a private landlord, per month (August 2026).

Wages

The Moscow minimum wage is ₽34,600 (≈ €360) net a month (₽39,700 gross).

It varies by region: amount in Moscow.

Net of the 13% income tax withheld by the employer; there are no employee contributions.

Average wage: ₽102,000 (≈ €1,070) gross a month.

Healthcare

You need private insurance (DMS) to get your work permit; public insurance (OMS) opens with a temporary or permanent residence permit.

In the example above: to work you need private health insurance (DMS); public insurance (OMS) comes with a residence permit. We count your health costs at local prices (£10 a month).

Visa and residence permit

The employer obtains the permit to hire a foreigner and sends you the invitation; you then apply for the visa at the Russian consulate. Your family follows with its own invitation.

Cost: ₽8,000 (≈ €80) per person.

Visa invitation, RUB 8,000 state duty per person; the employee’s is paid by the employer, consular fees extra.

There is no visa to live on income from abroad: you need a local job, unless your nationality is exempt.

Moving in and everyday life

Deposit: 1 month’ rent
Agency fees: 1 month’ rent
School: Free state school ; private or international school: about ₽950,000 (≈ €10,000) a year
Electricity: ₽1.80 to ₽8.33 per kWh depending on the region
Getting around without a car: Public transport: ₽3,010 a month per adult
Home cleaning: ₽400 an hour

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to live in Moscow?

For a single person keeping the same life as in London: about ₽119,000 (≈ €1,250) net a month, i.e. 3.4 times the Moscow minimum wage.

How much is rent in Moscow?

About ₽74,300 (≈ €780) a month for a one-bedroom home and ₽107,000 for a two-bedroom home, according to Rosstat, average consumer prices for August 2026.

Do you need a residence permit to live in Russia?

The employer obtains the permit to hire a foreigner and sends you the invitation; you then apply for the visa at the Russian consulate. Your family follows with its own invitation. Cost: ₽8,000 (≈ €80) per person.