Cost of Living in Saint Petersburg
Summary of cost of living in Saint Petersburg, Russia:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 2,577.4$ (196,825.8руб), excluding rent (using our estimator).
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 710.5$ (54,255.2руб), excluding rent.
- Saint Petersburg is 54.0% less expensive than Seattle (excluding rent, see our cost of living index).
- Rent in Saint Petersburg is, on average, 67.4% lower than in Seattle.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 10.48 $ | |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 45.83 $ | |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 6.55 $ | |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 3.27 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.27 $ | |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 2.71 $ | |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 1.11 $ | |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 0.51 $ | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.25 $ | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 0.82 $ | |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 0.72 $ | |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 1.67 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 5.83 $ | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 2.57 $ | |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 4.95 $ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 0.88 $ | |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.82 $ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 0.85 $ | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 1.57 $ | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 0.47 $ | |
| Onions (1 lb) | 0.30 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 1.35 $ | |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 0.76 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 10.48 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 1.12 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.11 $ | |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 3.14 $ | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 1.05 $ | |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 55.19 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 3.27 $ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 1.37 $ | |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 7.86 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.81 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 39,283.91 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 38,175.90 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 132.28 $ | |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 7.05 $ | |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 8.10 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 49.07 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 26.13 $ | |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 6.55 $ | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 445.99 $ | |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 13,126.85 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 96.34 $ | |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 49.70 $ | |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 127.02 $ | |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 139.68 $ | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 904.03 $ | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 494.64 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 1,618.50 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,004.76 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 399.79 $ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 257.83 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 1,207.49 $ | |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 23.30 |
Prices in Saint Petersburg
This city had 2649 entries in the past 12 months by 287 different contributors.
Last update: 5 December 2025
Last update: 5 December 2025
Sources and References
Moving to Saint Petersburg? Explore:
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
This Page in Other Languages:
 DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Sankt Petersburg
|
 PortuguêsCusto de Vida em São Petersburgo
|
 ItalianoCosto della vita a San Pietroburgo
|
 FrançaisCoût de la vie à Saint-Pétersbourg
|
 EspañolCoste de vida en San Petersburgo
|
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The prices seems accurate. The rent is quite flexible, you can found some very cheap flats in the center but they tend to be in a very bad shape. On another hand there is a whole luxury renting sector as well.
Also keep in mind that the city is heavily relying on tourism, so you may find huge price differences between touristic and non touristic places. A pint of local beer in a pub will cost you 300p+ in a fancy pub in the center, and can cost as low as 100p in a student place out of the touristic district. Same for food, you can easily have a full fledged three-meal for 300-500p outside of the touristic districts, but you'll probably pay 1000+ in the center.
Also that takes time to get used to the local weather, check your vitamins levels in winter if you feel constantly tired :-)
However, with the events of the last 10 years, I have begun to notice a stark difference in attitudes of the Russians. Especially during my time in the Los Angeles & Miami, there are 2 distinct sets of Russians. One is of course the oligarchs and their families/friends who are buying up properties in the West especially US and UK, and converting them into Airbnbs or hostels. A lot of them clearly have a "only Russian" policy. Apart from this, the second segment seems to be villagers east of the Urals, from Siberia who have never even been to Moscow and SPB, claiming refugee/asylum status, to escape from the draft. They are openly hostile to even the host country citizens, let alone other immigrants such as Asians, Latinos etc. They have flooded Mexico and even started Russian only areas and businesses, similar to Goa in India.
It's clear that they are on a su*cidal path, as evidenced by Putin's phrase from last year - "What use is such a world, where Russia does not exist?" Even the infamous Blue Whale game targeting teenagers for self deletion was originated in Russia. They have become a deeply self loathing, pessimistic, and scorched earth kind of culture just in 10 years, and it's only going to get worse. Forget the Ukrainians, now they are even beginning to despise the other republics and ethnicities of each other. To say nothing of their discontempt and anger towards the Kazakhs, Uzbeks etc.
I am no NATO supporter and I loathe the US imperialism and intervention as much as anyone from the South, but I am sad to say, what I considered a once great culture, is in ruins and shambles. The Russkies are on a path to insignifance within a brainwashed echo chamber.
Depends on the salary and overall quality. There are options to buy eggs both 1 euro and 3 euro per 10 eggs.
Rent is more or less real, again, there are options.
You could rent 1 bedroom in centre for 35000 rub, or for 70000.
Cars become extremely expensive, you'd better to buy 3-year car from US.
It was a nice place to live, work and grew up untill the war.
1) Since Soviet Union broke up, life outside big cities has been getting worse. To survive people are moving to big cities.
2) The same situation happens in Middle Asia, there is no job and as there are no borders most of the able-bodied population move to Moscow and St.-Petersburg.
But I have to admit the second reason has been losing its power since the war began.