Cost of Living in Yekaterinburg, Russia

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How Much Does It Cost to Live In Yekaterinburg?

Yekaterinburg is the capital of the Urals region of Russia and the 4th most populous city in Russia after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Novosibirsk, with a population of 1.4 million people.

The city is located right on the border of Europe and Asia in the Ural mountains and for some may be attractive to visit because of this fact.

Living here is probably quite similar to many other larger provincial cities of Russia.

The amount of money you spend, though, depends only on your preferences and your lifestyle.

RESTAURANTS

During recent years many new cafés and restaurants have opened in Yekaterinburg and there’s an extensive network of extremely cheap canteens that serve mostly Russian cuisine. You can eat in these canteens for only 6$, and if you want a pint of domestic beer it will cost you around 1.60$. Don’t worry, there are also many expensive and posh restaurants in Yekaterinsburg as well.

MARKETS

If you’re in need of a supermarket in the center of the city, you can head off to Grinvich shopping mall where there’s a large supermarket with everything you need. You can always buy plenty of groceries in supermarkets but you can also find fresh produce and fish in open markets that pop up daily throughout the city.

TRANSPORTATION

The public transport system is very extensive and has a very well-organized tram network. In Yekaterinburg, trams are very popular among citizens and you’ll often find them to be too crowded. There are also lots of buses and trolleybuses, and the metro is also very popular because it is quick and inexpensive. Taxis are very cheap if ordered by a phone call. Uber is reliable and is extremely cheap using uberSTART plan.

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

People in Yekaterinburg might consider utilities expensive, probably due to the fact that the bills skyrocket during winter (because of all the heating). However, compared to some other cities, like Moscow, utilities aren’t too expensive. For an apartment of 85m2 all basic utilities, including electricity, gas, garbage services, heating and cooling cost around 109$.

SPORTS & LEISURE

The city of Yekaterinburg offers many opportunities to practice sports and stay active. You can always go skating, hiking, jogging, running, or just walking among its gorgeous forests and hiking tracks. However, if you want to stay fit while indoors, no worries – your gym or fitness club membership will cost you 35$ a month.

CLOTHING & SHOES

When in Yekaterinburg, be sure to visit to the “Chinese Market” or Bazaar. It is a market that includes many hundreds of small outdoor stalls. For a more western-like shopping experience, go to the Grinvich mall: it is the biggest mall in Russia outside Moscow. There, you can find lots of international stores where you can buy quality jeans for around 70$, while light pieces of clothing like shirts cost around 37$.

RENT PER MONTH

The flat renting is rather expensive, considerably more so than in many other cities of that size in Russia. Rent will likely be your biggest expense here. Housing is mostly in the form of apartments and they usually tend to be small. An apartment in the city center will cost around 340$ and one on the outskirts of town will be cheaper – 240$.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Yekaterinburg

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Yekaterinburg?

As expected, the biggest chunk of the paycheck of Yekateringburg’s citizens gets spent on food, that takes up 30% of one’s entire income.

The next huge expense is rent, with a higher percentage than in most cities, probably due to the fact that the standard is somewhat higher in Yekateringburg and the rent is considerably more expensive.

Restaurants take up the next spot on the list, as well as transportation, because even though it’s inexpensive, it’s necessary.

As usual, the smallest amount of money is spent on clothes and accessories.

Average Costs Breakdown

Yekaterinburg: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

With a minimum wage of about 270$, many citizens of Yekaterinburg have barely enough to cover their basic expenses, which is definitely worrisome.

However, for an average citizen the situation isn’t that bad, since middle class can earn enough for a relatively normal life – meaning they have everything necessary for a living.

The average monthly salary in this Russian city is around 530$ which is enough to lead a normal life and make ends meet.

Yekaterinburg is, luckily, somewhat known and visited by tourists, so it’s a bit richer because tourism is more developed here than in many other cities of its size.

Yekaterinburg Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Yekaterinburg Safety Review

Safety Index:

72

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
• MUGGING RISK: LOW
• TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in Yekaterinburg