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Money

How much will your Russian trip cost


Q: How much money will I need to bring with me?

A: Recommended budget varies depending on where you are going and how much you want to do when you are there. As a general guide, St Petersburg and Moscow are of a similar cost to major European cities for meals and sightseeing. Siberia and Golden Ring are considerably less expensive, but you should still allow USD 3-5 per meal (not including any alcohol you might want to drink), and USD 2- 5 for most sightseeing entrances. If I had to give an overall opinion, budget USD 30 per day is a minimum.


I advise that you take US dollars or Euros to change once you arrive in Russia. It's easy to find the place - exchange offices are on every corner. They may have different exchange rate - the good one has 15 - 20 kopeks difference between "buy" and "sale" points. You should only change money at banks, hotels and recognized exchange kiosks. It is an offence to change money from street traders. In St.Pete exchange offices and in all banks in Russia you have to show your passport to the operator. In Moscow exchange offices no ID needed.

It is illegal to pay directly with Dollars or Euros. However, many stores and restaurants indicate their prices in US dollars or so-called conditional units, which are usually equal to USD or Euro. Most hotels, restaurants and large shops accept credit cards, but smaller shops do not. We use 10-, 50-, 100- 500- and 1000 ruble notes (see samples below) and change - metal rubles and kopeks. It's always good to have some change with you.

You can also cash credit cards at most exchange offices without using an ATM machine: all you need is your card and a valid passport. A fee of 3% for this service is standard. Additionally, there is a network of Western Union affiliates in every city. ATMs (Plus or Cirrus networks, Visa, MasterCard and Amex) exist at the main streets in most major cities. Depending on bank that supports a cash machine, you may be charged up to 2% fee in overcharges. Some ATM machines charge as low as 0% commission (Alfabank), so you will only pay your own bank's ATM withdrawal fee.

Travelers cheques are not widely accepted. Sber bank (Russian Federal Bank) accept American Express, and some other banks too, but they charge a lot for exchange. BTW Sber bank has the lower currency exchange rate, than other banks. Have heard once that people, who came in American Express Moscow office were redirected to the nearest exchange office, so don't try to catch those cents…


Prices

Moscow and St.Pete are expensive than other Russian cities. In the end of 2004 fuel prices jump up again. Taxi drivers in Moscow don't want to hear "50 rubles to the next crossroad" anymore. And the Moscow metro prognosis is 15 rubles (50 cents) in the beginning of 2005 (well, actually 10 if you buy 10 rides ticket). However, it still possible to make a budget journeys, but you should know EXACTLY every part of your journey - hotel, transportation, etc. before you come here, course unexpected fees may be pretty high.

The rest of Russia and Siberian cities has ~1,5 times lower prices for the most of food, drinks, and consumer goods and services. Note, that credit cards are not widely accepted in Russian province.

Here are the samples of Russian prices on most important consumer goods and services. Note, that in the peripheral regions (i.e. outside of Moscow and St.Pete), people are to so much influenced by the "golden fever". The prices there may be lower on 15 - 20%.


Good lunch $5-7 (even in a very prestigious restaurant "business lunch" - 3 meals - normally $5-6)
A bottle of beer ~80 c - $ 1.5
Apartment rental, in a small town $100 / month
A bottle of brand-named vodka $10-15, a bottle of regular trade mark (Crystal or Liviz) ~ $5-8
Apartment rental in Moscow $50-$100 per day, $350-900 / month
Photocopy 10-15 cents
Room rental in Moscow, for a good room $30 per day for one or two persons, or $300 per month
Western styled hotel $150-300 per night
"Soviet" style Hotel $ 25 per night
Cellular phone minute 10-15 c in average.
A new russian car $6000
Apartment in Moscow - square meter in new build house $1000 - $1500 per meter
Hookers $15-400 per session
University degree $1500-3000 per year
Train ride Moscow to St.Petersburg, 2nd class, 850 km $30
A pre-owned car $3K-8K
Traffic fines $3-5/offence
Taxi 10-30 cents/km
Books $4-12 for a good hard-cover book
Internet access $0.2 to $1/hr
A loaf of bread 20 - 50 cents
A subway ride 40 cents
Gasoline 50 cents/litre



Samples of Russian rubles banknotes

 

 
   




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Exchange rates





Money services: Moscow

Raiffeisenbank Austria 4 Romanov Perulok, Building 4, 745-9820

Austria Creditanstalt 10/2 Bolshaya Dmitrovka Ul., Building 4, 933-6300/01

American Express 21A Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Ul., 755-9024, www.americanexpress.com
Western Union Call 797-2194 to find out the nearest WU agent.
www.westernunion.ru




Q: I have a girl friend in Russia (Yoshkar Ola). She’s coming to see me as soon as she can get her “money order” cashed. The bank she’s going to thinks it’s a “money gram” and I tried to tell her that there is a difference. I need to find her the nearest place that will do that for her.

A: As I understand - she need to do the only one - check is there any Western Union or Money Gram agents in her area and send to you conditions of the money transfer. Usualy "sponsor" send money via WU or MG and recieve 10 digits code, wich is the "password" for the recipient.




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