Russia. Living Standards. Housing.

In Russian cities and a big amount of small towns people live in apartment buildings. The most of those apartments have 1, 2 or 3, or 4 rooms + a kitchen and bathroom.

Such apartments can be quite small. They always have a hallway where, as it is customary, people take off shoes (they put on home slippers or just are barefoot).

When people in Russia talk about a two or three room apartment, they don't mean only bedrooms, they mean all rooms except for a hallway, bathroom and kitchen. Probably because a lot of people turn their living rooms into a sleeping place for the night.

Many people have a dog or a cat at home.

A lot of people have a dacha, or a summer house, where they would spend their vacations and weekends.

The most of country-side people are living in own homes. These homes usually are without amenities (toilet outside of house). Many Russian people do not have cars and use a public transport.

The Official Russian holidays:

The New Year: December 31th/ January 1st

The New Year's vacation: December 31th - January 10th

The Orthodox Christmas: January 7th

The Protector of Motherland Day February 23th

The Women's Day: March 8th

The Easter: the date varies with each year

The Labour Day: May 1st - 2nd

The Victory Day: May 9th

The Independence Day: June 12th

The Day of the National Unity: November 4th

The themes of conversations with Russians.

Russians may ask you very private questions about your life, earnings, relationships - something you may be not quite ready to answer. But you should not be confused: they are sincere and just do not know that you didn't get used to such types of questions.In the same time, many people do not talk or avoid conversations about their body. Women avoid mentioning any conversations about figure's problems and their age. But the most of elder people like to talk about their health problems.

Russian food.

Usually Russian people eat a lot of food with calories and fat. In summer and in autumn Russians eat a lot of fresh vegetables or fruits but they have lack of these products in winter and in spring. Everyday diet contains a sausage, bread, soups, plenty of potatoes and dairy products. Also Russians very love a pasta, pelmeny and mayonnaise, which they add to almost every dish.

Russians drink a lot of tea, usually without milk but with sugar and lemon. It is customary to have sweets, biscuits, cakes, jam with tea.

Religions in Russia

The Russian society is generally tolerant towards various religions. Buddists, Christians, Muslims, Jews - all of them practice their religions freely and very often live just across the street...

Crimes in Russia

Really Russia is much safer for a foreigners than is often thought. In a lot of cities one can safely walk late at night without being afraid of being robbed, or assaulted in some way.

Violent crime is not as widespread as is commonly thought although petty scams and pocket picking can be prevalent. The basic rules of travelling apply in Russia: use the common sense! Do not trust every stranger you meet, but remember that most of the people you meet on your way, are genuinely interested in talking to you.

Current Prices in Russia

1 US dollar = about 25.5 RUR

1 Euro = about 35.5 RUR

Food and Toiletries:

Milk (one liter): 20-25 RUR

Mineral water (1.5 liters): 15 - 30 RUR

Fruit juice pack (1 liters): 40-50 RUR

Bread (1/2 kilo loaf): 15 - 20 RUR

Meat (one kilo): 200-250 RUR

Oranges (one kilo): 60 RUR

Potatoes (one kilo): 14 - 55 RUR

Pack of pasta (1/2 kilo): 20 - 150 RUR

Pack of instant noodles: 6 - 20 RUR

Bar of soap: 10 - 20 RUR

Bottle of nice shampoo: 70 - 150 RUR

One beer (1/2 liter): 20 - 70 RUR

A pack of cigarettes: 20 - 100 RUR, depending on the brand

A bottle of wine (0.75 liter): 100 - 500 RUR

A bottle of vodka (0.5 liter): 100- 300 RUR

A chocolate bar (200 grams): 25 - 40 RUR

Ice cream cone (70 grams): 6 - 20 RUR

A new Russian car: 280.000 - 350.000 RUR

Clothes:

Sport type running shoes, sneakers, trainers: 1000 - 4000 RUR

A pair of good leather shoes or boots: 2000 - 4000 RUR

A shirt: 300 ~ 600 RUR

Pair of jeans: 1000 - 2500 RUR

Pair of socks: 20 - 100 RUR

Sweater: 1000 - 2000RUR

Warm winter jacket: 2500 - 10000 RUR

Fur coat: 20000 -200000 RUR

A nice multi-speed bike: 3,000 - 10,000 RUR

A big 80 liter backpack: 1000 - 3000 RUR

Sleeping bag: 1500 - 3000 RUR

A personal computer with screen 21': 9000 - 30000 RUR

A laptop: 10000 - 50000 RUR

Public Transport: 10 - 20 RUR within city limits.

Taxi: minimum ( 3km) 100 RUR in a little towns and minimum 200 RUR in big cities

Currently gas costs 24 RUR per liter.

Housing:

1 room apartment (30 meters):

in Moscow from 5000,000.00 RUR

in big cities (with population more than 1 million people) from 2000,000.00 RUR

in towns from 1000,000.00 RUR

Renting an 1 room apartment:

in Moscow from 30000 RUR per month (from 1 month), or from 3000 RUR per day.

in big cities from 10000 RUR per month (from 1 month), or from 1000 RUR per day

in towns from 5000 RUR per month (from 1 month), or from 500 RUR per day.

Hotel costs from 3000 RUR in Moscow and big cities and from 1500 RUR in towns.

Education

Citizens do not usually pay for studies at a public school. The education in colleges and thr university cost from 50000 RUR per year in small cities and from 150000 RUR per year in Moscow.

Leisure

Aerobics: 2-3 times a week, 1000-2000 RUR a month

Swimming Pool: one visit 70-100 RUR for 1 hour

Yoga: 600 - 1000 RUR a month, two times a week

Disco or club: 200-500 RUR

Pop or rock concert ticket: 500 - 2000 RUR

Theatre ticket: 100 - 250 RUR (outside of Moscow)

Internet access in the internet cafe : 1 hour 30-50 RUR

Dining out

This can be quite expensive in Russia unlike other countries with similar living standards. One should avoid posh places, which tend to overcharge for anything. One can easily pay 1500 - 3000 RUR for a very modest meal at a nice restaurant. A school or university cafeteria meal costs about 100 RUR per lunch. McDonalds costs 200 RUR per lunch.