Cost of Living in Russia for Indian Students

Student Living Cost in Russia

As the largest country in the world, Russia is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for international students. According to the database company Statista, Russia hosts the third-highest number of international students in the world, after Canada and Australia. Russia is a country that is home to more than 160 different ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages and is an attractive destination for the students who wish to pursue their higher education in a culturally-rich environment. The wide variety in the areas of study offered by Russia, along with a great quality of higher education, makes the hectic process of admission to Russian universities, from application to the final enrollment, totally worth it.

Before planning to study in Russia, it is necessary that students get a good knowledge of the cost of living in Russia. It helps students to plan their budgets. The Russian currency is called Russian Ruble, depicted as py6 or RUB.  1 RUB is equal to Rs. 0.96 (as of April 2021, meaning cost of living in Russia is lower as compared to India. Students must also keep in mind while selecting a city to study in Russia that the cost of living in Moscow and St. Petersberg is higher than that in the other regions of the country.  

Given below is the detailed information on the living cost in Russia. From the cost of accommodation in Russia to market prices and transportation cost in Russia, the page answers all queries regarding the same.

Cost of Studying in Russia

The cost of studying / tuition fee in Russia depends upon the university and programme one prefers to pursue. The average cost of studying medicine in Russia can range from 3 lakhs to 55 lakhs. The cost of pursuing other degrees is mentioned in the table below. 

The universities in Russia offer several scholarships to international students which help in reducing the cost of studying and tuition fee in the country.

International students are only allowed to pursue higher education in Russia if and when they have a valid Health Insurance for the duration of their stay in the country. This is one more cost that international students need to consider. Having Health Insurance can help international students in cutting off the medical care expenses by a great margin as it can be expensive.

One more cost that students need to add up to their list of studying expenses in Russia is the cost of student visa for Russia. The Russian student visa remains valid for only three months and then students need to apply for a visa extension 

Cost of Studying MBBS in Russia

Given below is the list of medical universities in Russia and how much they charge an international student studying MBBS annually:

Accommodation Cost in Russia

For an international student, it is crucial to find the best option for lodging within their budget. The most common accommodation options for international students in Russia are rental apartments, university dormitory/hostels and a host family. It is important to consider all the pros and cons of an option to ensure that the decision is cost-effective and not heavy on a student’s pockets.

The accommodation fee of a university dormitory is decided by the university itself. So, it may vary for different universities. These dormitories are fully-furnished and a much cheaper option than renting apartments in Russian cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. These two cities offer the most expensive rental apartments whereas, in Novosibirsk, students can get the same options for a half price. Some universities also provide the option of finding a host family for the students. 

The average cost of accommodation in Russia can be seen in the table below.

Transportation Cost in Russia

In a vast country like Russia where the distances are enormous, the transportation is not very expensive. There are various forms of transportation available in Russia. From regular buses to private taxis to suburban trains, students can find all kinds of public transport in Russia. In some major cities of the country, express trains are operated from airport terminals. 

The average cost of a person per day in urban transport can be around 130 - 150 INR. However, transportation cost varies from city to city. The bigger the city, the higher the transportation cost. The same journey that costs 50 RUB (48 INR) in Moscow will cost 45 RUB (43.23 INR)  in St. Petersburg and 32 RUB (30 INR) in Yekaterinburg. Cities like Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, etc offer lower transportation cost than Moscow and St. Petersburg. 

The following table represents the transportation cost in different cities of Russia.

Cost of Food in Russia

In order to make a budget to plan the monthly expenditure, one must know the cost of food and the daily expenditure of having three-time meals in Russia. The cost of restaurant meals in Russia varies from city to city. A cappuccino in a coffee shop can cost from 240 to 260 RUB. The monthly meal expenses in Russia can range from 8,000 to 20,000 RUB.

Here is the approximate cost of fruits, vegetables and restaurants meals in Russia.

Medical Insurance Cost for International Students in Russia

In Russia, healthcare and medical insurance have a significant role to play throughout the stay of an international student. Students from outside the country need a health insurance policy to be treated at state hospitals, health centres or student clinics.

Immediately upon arrival in Russia, an international student is required to buy a voluntary health insurance (VHI) policy, which covers certain medical services  such as out-patient and in-patient care, hospitalisation and transportation, as required by the Russian law.

A VHI policy and its cost, range of services and term of validity will vary from one region to another. In 2020, insurance companies offered VHI policies to students in Moscow within the range of 4,000 and 12,000 RUB (INR 3,845-11,537, as of April 2021).

Cellular Communication, Internet Costs in Russia

To get a SIM card from phone stores in Russia, one must have a national passport and a migration card. The cost of a standard package of services ranges between 300 and 400 RUB (INR 288-384).

The Internet is usually offered free of charge in dormitories. However, if one chooses to rent an apartment, they will have to pay for internet separately, around 300 to 500 RUB (INR 288-480), depending on the plan, region, provider and rate.

Other Expenditure

Other expenditures like movies, clothes shopping, recreational activities also take up a decent amount of the budget. Hence, it is important to know the expenditure on these things in Russia. 

City-wise Cost of Living in Russia

Given below are the most popular student cities in Russia and their overall average cost of living for an international student:

Overall Average Expenditure of an International Student in Russia

Here is an overview of how much an international student is likely to spend on accommodation, food, transportation, and other significant everyday expenses: 

Note: Costs mentioned on this page are based on the current exchange rate as of April 2021.