With more than seventeen million square kilometers, Russia - officially the Republic of Russia - is the ninth country in the world by population (146,544,710 people occupy its vast territory).

  • If you are thinking of traveling there, we assume that previously, you will want to calculate the budget you will need. So in this post, we tell you how much money you will need to travel to Russia .

The Russian Ruble

The official currency of Russia is the Russian ruble , whose symbol is composed of a "P" with a horizontal stripe and its ISO code is RUB. This, in course in the country for 500 years, is divided into 100 kopecks. You will find 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 Russian rubles, and coins of 1, 5, 10 and 50 kopeks, and 1, 2, 5 and 10 rubles.
To be able to travel with this currency to the country, you can exchange it for yours at any of the Global Exchange offices that you will find around the world (in some countries, even online ) or do it directly when you arrive in Russia . If you prefer to have everything fixed before arriving in Russia and you live in one of the countries where Global Exchange is, exchange money at your departure airport with a discount .

Where to change currency in Russia

As we mentioned before, you can change your currency for the Russian ruble in the same country.   Check the location of Global Exchange offices on the following map:

How much will it cost me…

Now that you know how the coin you will have to pay during your trip in this country, we give you some references so that you know that it will cost you roughly to be in this country. Time, you decide!

Transport

You can move around this country in many ways, since it has a very advanced transportation system: by car, by train (you can consider following the Trans-Siberian route ), bus, marshrutka (a kind of van) and even airplane! Take into account the great dimensions of this country ... This is what it will cost you:
  • Rent a small car for one day: 2778 Russian rubles / 47.6 US dollars / 45 euros. You can rent it with companies like Sixt , Europcar or Avis . If you plan to travel to this country in winter , be aware that it is not the best time to travel there with this means of transport because the temperatures are many degrees below zero.
  • One liter of gasoline : 38 Russian rubles / US $ 0.65 / 0.62 euros.
  • A simple ticket for urban transport: 50 rubles / US $ 0.86 / 0.81 euros. If you are going to stay for several days and plan to use different means of transportation, check the Troika card because it may pay you back.
  • A taxi for a journey of about 8 kilometers, with normal traffic : 358 Russian rubles / US $ 6.13 / 5.8 euros.


Eat and drink

As we said before, Russia is a country of great dimensions and, therefore, you will find a wide variety of dishes to enjoy. Among others, a good soup, such as borsch-Ukrainian-origin, stroganoff-beef veal with cream sauce-or kefir-a drink similar to yogurt.
  • A menu at a hamburger: 275 Russian rubles / US $ 4.7 / 4.5 euros.
  • Eat in a restaurant of average price: 400 rubles Russian / 6,8 US dollars / 6.5 euros.
  • Dine in a restaurant of average price: 1000 Russian rubles / 17 US dollars / 16 euros.
  • A beer in a bar: 278 Russian rubles / 4.8 US dollars / 4.5 euros.
  • A coffee in a bar: 238 Russian rubles / 4 US dollars / 3.8 euros.
  • Buy a loaf of bread at a supermarket: 32 Russian rubles / US $ 0.55 / 0.52 euros.
  • Buy a kilo of tomatoes in a supermarket: 176 Russian rubles / 3 American dollars / 2.85 euros.

Sleep

We always say in this blog, the price of accommodation will depend on what you are looking for because it is not the same travel as backpacker to seek the comfort of a good hotel. Therefore, we leave you some prices that can serve as reference to know what it will cost you to sleep in this country in:
  • A double room in a medium-priced hotel with breakfast included: 4940   Russian rubles / US $ 85/80 euros.
  • A bed in a hostel in the center of Moscow, in a room for 6 people, mixed, and with breakfast included: 865 Russian rubles / 15 US dollars / 14 euros.
  • Rent a flat of 45 square meters in a middle area of ​​Moscow (price per month): 38 913 Russian rubles / 666 US dollars / 630 euros.

Enjoy leisure

If you are looking for cultural offer, in Russia you will find it. And if you are looking for party, too. Because despite the low temperatures that can be reached in winter, the atmosphere in their cities does not stop. This is what it will cost you ...
  • One movie ticket: 370 Russian rubles / 6.3 US dollars / 6 euros.
  • A drink in a bar or club at night: 527 Russian rubles / 9 US dollars / 8.5 euros.
  • A ticket for the theater (you will have to understand Russian): 8081 Russian rubles / 138 US dollars / 131 euros.
  • The entrance to the Kremlin : 927   Russian rubles / US $ 16/15 euros.

  • Buy a daily newspaper, like the Komsomólskaya Pravda : 31   Russian rubles / US $ 0.53 / US $ 0.5.
In summary, the total approximate cost for a person, per day , counting on you moving in a rental car, sleeping in a hotel and doing some of the leisure activities mentioned, would be about 6679 Russian rubles (US $ 115 / 109 euros). In case you travel by public transport , and if we have a return trip, it would be about 5366 Russian rubles (US $ 93/88 euros).
* Prices have been taken from Moscow as a reference, as of February 2017. Please note that within the country there are price differences, depending on where you are, and that in tourist cities you may find prices higher than in others that do not Be both.
Source consulted: Expatistán and cost of life .
Images: Jackmac34 , Mezenmir , Falco and 3dman_eu .