Smart Moscow - how expensive is Moscow?

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Sightseeing in Moscow

How expensive is Moscow?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we locals receive. In general Moscow is a very expensive city. I believe it is now ranked by an international survey as the second most expensive city in the world. However, this is a little misleading as this survey is based on a basket of goods including hotels, restaurants and supermarkets targeted at wealthy foreign businessmen.

On the other hand, if you act like a local, you can get around most of these expenses. For instance a dinner at a standard sushi restaurant such as Planet Sushi will set you back about 1500 rubles per person. On the other hand you can eat a full buffet dinner at restaurant chain Moo Moo which features Russian food and this will set you back 300 rubles including beer. The average four star hotel room in Moscow costs 14,000 rubles and up per room. But you can next door you can find cute little bed and breakfasts or hostels for 700 rubles per person. In general, the budget traveler and get by on about 1600 rubles per day. This includes room, food, sights and transportation.

The average family in Moscow earns approximately $1,000 per month. They can get by on this sum by shopping at open markets and hypermarkets not in the center. Restaurants out of the center are also much less expensive.