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Questions and answers:
M asks: How did the prices of food, household goods, and entertainment change since the war in Ukraine?
Expert's answer:
Here is some data about annual inflation in Russia by different categories:
All goods and services: 11.9% - 2022, 7.4% - 2023, 9.1% - as of August 2024,
Food products: 10.3% - 2022, 8.2% - 2023, 9.7% - as of August 2024,
Non-food products: 12.7% - 2022, 6% - 2023, 6.1% - as of August 2024,
Services: 13.2% - 2022, 8.3% - 2023, 11.7% - as of August 2024.
You can check the current prices in different cities in Russia via the following site (
in Moscow, for example). Also noteworthy is the significant increase in average wages, by 15% in 2023 and approximately 16% in 2024.
Nick asks: How long will 100k US dollars last in Russia?
Expert's answer:
As of 2024, a single person estimated monthly
cost of living in Moscow (without rent) is about 650 USD per month,
in St. Petersburg - 580 USD,
in Kazan - 500 USD per month. Check the provided links to get more details about cost of living in different cities in Russia.
Carlos asks: How can Canadians travel to Russia?
Expert's answer:
Official information about
getting a Russian visa in Canada. You can fly to Istanbul, Turkey and from Istanbul there are flights to Moscow available.
Asif asks: What can you afford to buy with 50,000 Rubles?
Expert's answer:
You can check the following site with info about
cost of living in Moscow to get an idea of the prices.
JSa asks: Did Russia "lockdown" during covid and are there any covid protocols still ongoing for tourists? Must proof of vaccination be presented? Can foreign nationals apply for asylum in Russia?
Expert's answer:
All Covid restrictions have been lifted; foreigners don't need any vaccination certificates, tests, etc. to enter Russia. Check the following article about
Granting asylum in Russia.
Fab asks: I live of my trusty i get 5000 dollar a month, can i live a good life in Russia?
Expert's answer:
As of March, 2024, this income level is more than 10 times higher than the average monthly income of working people in Russia. So you can live quite comfortably anywhere in Russia. You can, for example, check the prices for various goods and services in Moscow to get an idea of prices in Russia.
If you decide to move to Russia, you should probably wait until some kind of peace agreement is concluded between Russia and Ukraine, which will likely entail the lifting of some sanctions, especially on international transfers. Without this, you will probably have problems getting your income in Russia.
Jack asks: The damage to Stalingrad as estimated in 1943 was 9 million rubles, what is the US dollar equivalent of that in 1943 and now in 2024?
Expert's answer:
A small correction, the material damage caused to Stalingrud was estimated at 9 billion Soviet rubles. In 1936, the exchange rate of the Soviet ruble was pegged first to the French franc and then to the US dollar (to the gold backing of these currencies) and amounted to 5 Soviet rubles per 1 USD. Thus, the damage was about 1.8 billion USD in 1943 (about 32.6 billion USD in 2024). Of course this is a rough estimate.
Bran asks: What would it cost to travel on the Trans-Siberian railway for a tourist, and are there any tourist traps to watch out for? How risky is it to travel alone in Russia?
Expert's answer:
You should start by checking the following Trans-Siberain Railway tours, contact them directly to get more info:
first,
second,
third. If you are not an experienced traveler, can't speak Russian, I am not sure going alone is a good idea. It's not that it's very dangerous, it's just that there will probably be a lot of small issues that an organized tour will help you avoid, although it will be more expensive.
Daniel asks: So I clearly understand:
* RUBLES dated 1993 CAN NOT be exchanged and no longer have value? AND,
* RUBLES dated 1995 CAN be exchanged at current exchange rates? Thank you!
Expert's answer:
Both, the 1993 and 1995 series of Russian rubles are no longer in circulation and can't be exchanged, they have small collectible value.
The 1997 series is in circulation now and can be exchanged.
Skanky Dada asks: Can I survive on 500 thousand rubles a month in Russia?
Expert's answer:
As of August 2023, most working people in Russia earn in the range of about 20,000-40,000 Rubles per month. With an income of 500,000 rubles a month, you can live in very comfortable conditions everywhere in Russia, including Moscow.
