Russia view 1
Retrato de Lev Nikoláyevich Tolstói
Sergius of Radonezh blesses Dmitry Donskoy, before the Battle o…
Home-made mint kvas
Russia's Mir space station is backdropped over the blue and whi…
Mir mine. Mirny. The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Far Eastern F…

Russia

Arctic Ocean, Baltic…
Climate
RUB
Currency
Moderate
Safety
Low
Cost of Living
Russian
Language
Country Information Russia

Russia is the world's largest country by land area, spanning two continents - Europe and Asia - and covering over 17 million square kilometers. Stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, Russia encompasses diverse ge...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average25% cheaper
Rent
₽69,906Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
₽975Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
₽97.50Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
₽56.00One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Russia Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 62/100, Russia offers good safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Russia requires most international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, to obtain a tourist visa in advance through Russian embassies, consulates, or authorized visa centers before travel. Visa-free entry is limited to citizens of approximately 30 countries, primarily former Soviet states like Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Belarus, but even these require a pre-entry electronic application via the Gosuslugi RuID mobile app to generate a QR code (mandatory from June 30, 2025, submitted at least 72...

Visa-free entry: 30 days
Work permits available
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Russia

Create your free profile to see personalized match scores.

Location Intelligence for Russia
Cost of Living35.3

25% below EU avg

Safety61.9

Near EU average

Quality of Life118.0

24% below EU avg

Purchasing Power66.1

6% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Moscow

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Area

17,098,242 km²

Population

144,104,080

Russia shows a purchasing power index of 66/100, indicating good economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Russia

GDP

$2.24T

HDI

0.8

Quality of Life

51/100

+8 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

28/100

-14 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Russia. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Russia
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Very High

Very affordable (CPI: 35.5, NYC=100). Groceries (35.1), restaurants (34.3), and rent (11.3) are low with regional variations.

Housing Market

Poor

Property prices average 13.0 years of household income. Rent index (11.3) offers affordability but buying is expensive in major cities.

Average Income Levels

Poor

Purchasing power index of 64.8 indicates below-average buying power. Real wages growing modestly at 2.7% projected for 2026 amid labor shortages.

Tax System

Moderate

Flat income tax at 13-15% for most, progressive up to 22% for high earners; VAT 20%, recent hikes including VAT increase. Property taxes low at 0.1-2%, with regional variations.

Business Environment

Poor

Challenging due to sanctions, high credit costs, bureaucracy, and labor shortages. Growth stagnating at 1.1-1.4% forecast for 2026; World Bank data outdated.

Social Security

Good

Universal healthcare via compulsory insurance, though quality varies. Pensions and unemployment benefits (up to 75% salary for 3 months) cover most, with family support programs.

Work & Business in Russia
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Russia, the world's largest country, exhibits extreme climate diversity due to its vast expanse from Arctic tundra to subtropical Black Sea coast. Predominantly cold continental climates prevail, with harsh Siberian winters reaching -50°C and milder summers up to 30°C.

Climate
Tundra, Subarctic
Summer
15–30°C
Winter
-30–5°C
Sunshine
2500+ hrs/yr

6 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Russia

Life Expectancy

71.6

Population

144,104,080

Religions

Currently under research

Ethnic Composition

Russian
71.7%
not reported
11.6%
other
11.3%
Tatar
3.2%
Bashkir
1.1%
What Expats Say About RussiaBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Russia. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Russia
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Russia
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Russia
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Russia operates as a federal semi-presidential republic dominated by President Vladimir Putin, with the United Russia party holding a supermajority in the State Duma. The government under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was restructured in May 2024 amid ongoing centralization of power. Political indicators reflect low levels of democracy, press freedom, and high corruption perceptions.

System
Federal semi-presidential republic
Stability
Weak
Democracy
Authoritarian
Legal System
Civil law system
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Russia
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Russia flag
Russia at a Glance

Capital

Moscow

Languages

Russian

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Russia

Population

144,104,080

Currency

RUB

Timezones

UTC+03:00 to UTC+04:00, UTC+06:00 to UTC+12:00

Calling Code

+7

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

37.5 (2018)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.