Cost of Living in Russia for Indian Students: Russia is the largest country in a group called the Commonwealth of Independent States, which has 21 members. Not only does Russia have a Culturally rich Environment. It covers a huge area from Eastern Europe to North Asia. It reaches from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea and the Caucasus in the south.
Russia is also one of the places famous for its education in the world. Many students every year, from all around the world, go to Russia for their education, Including Indians. If you, too, are someone who wants to Study Courses such as Engineering, Accounting, architecture or MBBS in Russia (which you will get admission for after NEET), whether It is an undergraduate or Postgraduate and wants to know the Cost of Living in Russia for Indian students, then this article is for you.
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Key Highlights
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the cost of living in Russia for Indian students.
| Highlights | Details |
| Number of Indian Students Studying in Russia | 25,000 to 30,000 |
| Cost of Living in Russia (without rent) | INR- ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 per month USD- $300 to $600 per month |
| Average Rent in the City Centre | Hostel: INR- ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per month Private Rent: INR- ₹30,000 to ₹80,000 per month USD- $60 to $1,000 per month |
| Average Tuition Fees in Russia | INR- ₹2.9 Lakhs to ₹5.8 Lakhs per year USD- $3,500 to $7,000 per year |
| Part-Time Income for Students | INR- ₹25,000 to ₹60,000 per month USD- $300 to $700 per month |
| After MBBS (Career & Salary) | India (after FMGE/NExT): ₹6–12 Lakhs per year Russia (Doctor Salary): ₹8–20 Lakhs per year. Other Countries (after licensing): Higher earning potential |
| Top Scholarships | Russian Government Scholarship, University Scholarships |
Why Study in Russia?
Before you get to know the Cost of living in Russia for Indian Students, you must know if Russia is the right country for you individually. For Indian students planning to pursue MBBS abroad, it is also important to note that qualifying for NEET is mandatory, as per NMC guidelines, to study in Russia. Here are some points about why Russia could be a desirable country for you to study in.
- Russia has some of the best universities in the world in major fields.
- Most universities have low fees making it affordable for students.
- Degrees from Russian Universities have global acceptance.
- The admission process in most universities is very smooth, making it convenient for students at the time of admission.
- Russia has some of the most world-class facilities.
- In major universities, students are taught the course in English so that they don’t have any problems in smoothly pursuing their courses.
Cost of Living in Russia for Indian Students
Let’s move forward with knowing the cost of living in Russia for Indian students or international students. Russia, being the largest country in the world, is known for providing high-quality education at an affordable cost, making it a popular destination for MBBS abroad. If you are planning to study in Russia, it is important to plan your budget properly, as on average you will need about INR 25,000 to INR 50,000 (RUB 26,800 to RUB 53,500) per month, depending on the city, lifestyle, and accommodation type. This amounts to a total of approximately INR 2.5 lakhs to INR 5 lakhs (RUB 2,67,000 to RUB 5,35,000) for the entire academic year, with higher expenses in cities like Moscow and lower costs in smaller cities.
Here are some things that will be the major expenses for students. Let’s have a look at it.
| Accommodation | Food |
| Transportation | Healthcare |
| Utilities | Entertainment and Leisure |
Accommodation Cost for Indian Students
- The expenses of the University dormitory will vary from university to university but the average expense of the dormitory that a student will need to give is 5000 – 8000 INR.
- If a student wants to live away from the campus the charges might be different from that in a dormitory. The charges will go up to 20,000 – 22,000 INR.
- If a student chooses to live in a private apartment, the rent can be as high as approx 25,000-40,000 INR per month, depending on the city. This option usually costs more than staying in a dormitory or other student housing.
Cost of Food and Groceries in Russia
- The Cost of Food will always differ based on the City that you’re living in. If you, let’s suppose, are living in a big city like Moscow or Vladivostok, the prices will be higher than those in a small city.
- Average Food charges, monthly, will cost you somewhere around 10,000 – 20,000 INR.
Here is a summary of food costs, including groceries, to help you plan your budget more easily.
| Food Item | Average Cost (in RUB) | Approximate Cost (in INR) |
| Rice (1 kg) | 110 – 235 RUB | ₹110 – ₹235 |
| Bread (1 loaf) | 40 – 70 RUB | ₹40 – ₹70 |
| Milk (1 liter) | 70 – 125 RUB | ₹70 – ₹125 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | 30 – 100 RUB | ₹30 – ₹100 |
| Eggs (12 pcs) | 75 – 195 RUB | ₹75 – ₹195 |
| Chicken (1 kg) | 270 – 560 RUB | ₹270 – ₹560 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | 30 – 85 RUB | ₹30 – ₹85 |
| Onions (1 kg) | 50 – 75 RUB | ₹50 – ₹75 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | 140 – 220 RUB | ₹140 – ₹220 |
| Apples (1 kg) | 90 – 150 RUB | ₹90 – ₹150 |
| Lentils (1 kg) | 150 – 300 RUB | ₹150 – ₹300 |
| Cooking Oil (1 liter) | 150 – 300 RUB | ₹150 – ₹300 |
| Spices (small pack) | 70 – 150 RUB | ₹70 – ₹150 |
| Tea/Coffee (200g) | 150 – 350 RUB | ₹150 – ₹350 |
| Pasta (500g) | 60 – 120 RUB | ₹60 – ₹120 |
Transportation Cost in Russia
It is to be noted that the prices might change based on the city the student is living in. Cities like Moscow might cost you more when travelling than small cities. A single trip on a train will cost on average 57 RUB. Here is a summary of Transportation Costs in Russia.
| Transportation Type | Estimated Cost (in RUB) | Estimated Cost (in INR) |
| Subway Cost Single Journey | 60 – 90 RUB | ₹60 – ₹90 |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 60 – 90 RUB | ₹60 – ₹90 |
| Subway 60 Journey Travel Card | 2,200 RUB | ₹2,200 |
| Monthly Underground Card (Student Discount) | 500 – 800 RUB | ₹500 – ₹800 |
| Bus, Trolleybus, Tram | 60 – 90 RUB | ₹60 – ₹90 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 2,500 – 3,500 RUB | ₹2,500 – ₹3,500 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 120 – 300 RUB | ₹120 – ₹300 |
| Taxi (Per Kilometer) | 18 – 30 RUB | ₹18 – ₹30 |
| Petrol (1 liter) | 60 – 75 RUB | ₹60 – ₹75 |
Utilities
- It is important to note that utilities might not be covered along with accommodation, so when go for accommodation, you must check if Utilities are also covered in it.
- However, If you cannot find accommodation that covers Utilities, they will cost you, on average, around this:
| Particulars | Estimated Cost |
| Internet | INR 500 to 00 per month |
| Basic – Electricity, Heating etc | INR 6,000 8to 12,000 per month |
| Mobile Phone– Calls and Data | INR 300 to 600 per month |
Healthcare
- Every student must have a Health Insurance after going to Russia. It will be a great help for anyone, especially a student, at difficult times as you will get care at Hospitals and health centres when your close ones are not around.
- International Student’s Health Insurance ranges from 7000-12,000 INR, which will cover around 20,000-40,000 INR.
There are some other things too where you will find the need to spend the money such as Miscellaneous Expenses, Entertainment and Leisure but those things will depend on you and the amount of money you want to or will spend on it.
Cost of Living in Russian Cities
Here’s a table showing the estimated monthly living costs in major Russian cities for students. These costs are approximate and may vary depending on your lifestyle and location.
| City | Estimated Monthly Cost (in RUB) | Estimated Monthly Cost (in INR) |
| Moscow | 55,000 – 80,000 RUB | ₹55,000 – ₹80,000 |
| St. Petersburg | 45,000 – 70,000 RUB | ₹45,000 – ₹70,000 |
| Novosibirsk | 35,000 – 50,000 RUB | ₹35,000 – ₹50,000 |
| Kazan | 30,000 – 45,000 RUB | ₹30,000 – ₹45,000 |
| Nizhny Novgorod | 28,000 – 40,000 RUB | ₹28,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Samara | 28,000 – 40,000 RUB | ₹28,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Ufa | 22,000 – 32,000 RUB | ₹22,000 – ₹32,000 |
