Russia is the world's largest country, spanning eleven time zones from Europe to Asia. From the grandeur of Moscow's Red Square and St. Petersburg's palaces to the Trans-Siberian Railway and Lake Baikal, Russia offers unparalleled cultural heritage, dramatic landscapes, and unique experiences.
Local currency: Russian Ruble (RUB, ₽).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Russia.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $10-20 (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $35-60 (budget hotel/hostel private)
- Midrange
- $90-160 (3-star hotel)
- Luxury
- $300-900+ (5-star hotel)
Food
- Street
- $2-5 (blini, pirogi, stolovaya canteen meal)
- Local
- $8-15 (casual Russian cafe)
- Midrange
- $20-40 (restaurant with drinks)
- Fine
- $60-180+ (White Rabbit level)
Transport
- Bus
- 55-65 RUB ($0.60-0.70) per metro/bus ride
- Taxi
- 200-600 RUB ($2-6) short Yandex Taxi ride
- Airport
- 470-2500 RUB ($5-27) Aeroexpress to taxi
- Daytrip
- 500-2000 RUB ($5-21) intercity bus/train to nearby cities
Activities
- Museum
- 500-1200 RUB ($5-13) most major museums
- Sites
- 700-1500 RUB ($7-16) Kremlin, Hermitage
- Tour
- 1500-4000 RUB ($16-42) walking/guided tour
- Excursion
- 3000-8000 RUB ($32-84) day excursion with transport
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Russia costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$250-350/week (hostels, canteens, metro)
Midrange traveller
$600-1000/week (budget hotels, cafes, some dining out)
Luxury traveller
$2000-5000+/week (luxury hotels, fine dining, private guides)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy Troika card (Moscow) or Podorozhnik card (St. Petersburg) for metro and bus rides — saves 30% versus cash tickets
Stolovaya (Soviet canteen) restaurants serve full three-course lunches for 400-600 RUB ($4-6); Grabli and Mu-Mu chains are good quality
Book popular attraction tickets online in advance (Kremlin, Hermitage) to avoid same-day queues and occasional sold-out dates
Aeroexpress trains to/from airports cost 470 RUB ($5) versus 1500-3000 RUB ($16-32) for taxis — use for Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Pulkovo airports
Russian supermarkets (Pyaterochka, Magnit, Azbuka Vkusa) have excellent prepared food sections and bakeries for budget self-catering
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Red Square
Walk Moscow's iconic Red Square any time of day; the square itself is free though Kremlin and Lenin Mausoleum have fees
Palace Square St. Petersburg
Wander the magnificent Baroque square outside the Hermitage including the Alexander Column for free
Gorky Park Moscow
Moscow's most popular park along the Moskva River with playgrounds, outdoor cinema, sculptures, and embankment walking
Nevsky Prospekt Walk
Walk the entire length of St. Petersburg's main boulevard past palaces, bridges, and historic churches — all free
Arbat Street Performers
Moscow's pedestrian Old Arbat street has constant street musicians, portrait painters, and performers with no charge to watch
Alexandrovsky Garden
Stroll the historic gardens adjacent to the Kremlin walls, free and open daily
Hermitage Free Thursdays
First Thursday of each month the State Hermitage is free for all visitors — arrive early as queues form
Moscow Metro Architecture Tour
Buy one metro day pass (265 RUB/$2.80) and explore Moscow's palatial stations — each is unique and some are genuine art works