Living in Moscow

Cost of living

According to numerous surveys, Moscow is Europe's most expensive city. However, if you question people in the streets of Moscow as to what they think about cost of life in Moscow, you will find out something different. Muscovites, whose average monthly income is roughly $800-900, somehow manage to survive in this 'most expensive' city.

So what's the trick?

Surveys measure the comparative cost of over 200 items. These include the cost of housing, food, clothing, and household goods, together with transport and entertainment. Muscovites do not reside in business class hotel rooms or rented apartments, most of them have their meals either at home or at work, few buy their clothes in Prada boutiques.

So what are Moscow's most costly items?

Without doubt, housing comes first. A renovated, equipped and furnished 100 sq.m. 3-room apartment in central Moscow can cost as much as $3.000 per month.

Luxury cars sell in hundreds to the once called 'newly rich' and, expectedly, cost a good deal more than anywhere in Europe.

Famous haute couture brands are extremely expensive. It's no wonder that even well off Russians prefer to purchase their Gucci's and Ferre's somewhere in London or Milan.

Dining out can be costly. A 3-course meal with wine in a fancy restaurant is likely to cost you up to $100 per person.

And what is relatively cheap in Moscow?

All domestic goods, food and drinks, fast food, public transport and taxis, sightseeing tours and travelling, entrance fees to museums, books and press, petrol, sports, services.

Out of several thousand Moscow restaurants several hundred serve meals of decent quality at reasonable prices.

This is to give you an idea of average prices in Moscow.