Living cost
The dormitory fee is 9 000 rubles (127 USD) per month. If you would like to rent an apartment, prices for a one-room apartment start from 50,000 rubles (705 USD) per month.
Dormitory deposit (refundable after moving out) — approximately 15 000 rubles (204 USD).
Please also review the expected expenses for the first month:
- Medical insurance (annual) — 11 000 rubles (169 USD). Possible to buy via the link
- Medical examination (annual) —5 900 rubles (80 USD)
- Fingerprinting procedure — 1 600 rubles (22 USD)
- Migration registration fee — 500 rubles (7 USD)
- Visa extension fee — 1 920 rubles (26 USD)
According to official research, the minimum shopping basket (including bread, pasta, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, milk, and sugar) in Russia costs about 105 USD a month depending on the region. Russians estimate their monthly meal expenses to fall between 8,000 and 20,000 rubles (130 to 330 USD). Much depends on the region where people live and what and where they buy (corner shop, supermarket, market).
An average lunch bill is:
- At MAI canteens, lunch is about 300-500 rubles (4-7 USD)
- At Moscow cafes, business lunch is about 400-600 rubles (6-10 USD)
- At Moscow restaurants, lunch 700-2000 rubles (12-35 USD)
You can travel by metro and other public transport in Moscow. There are several payment options:
- Debit card — a single journey costs 83 rubles (1.5 USD).
- Troika card — a rechargeable transport card used for public transport in Moscow, including the metro, buses, and trams. A single journey costs 75 rubles (1 USD). An unlimited 30-day pass for the metro, buses, and trams costs 3 460 rubles (49 USD).
- Student social card — a discounted transport card for students. An unlimited 30-day metro pass costs 720 rubles (10 USD). A combined unlimited 30-day pass for the metro, buses, and trams costs 985 rubles (14 USD).
SIM-cards for mobile phones and tablets are sold in official phone stores. You need a national passport (indicating registration at your place of residence) and a migration card to buy a SIM-card. The cost of a standard package of services is around 500 rubles (7 USD). It varies from 300 rubles to 1000 rubles, depending on your needs (5-14 USD). Wi-Fi is available in all dormitories for MAI students. The most popular mobile phone operators are:
Moscow theatre tickets cost from 500 to 2,500 rubles (8-41 USD) and cinema tickets cost 300-600 rubles (5-10 UDS). A museum costs 100 to 1000 rubles (1.5-16 USD).
There are many great Russian brands in stores today, offering everything from basic everyday clothing to unique designer pieces. Shopping is also a popular form of entertainment in Russia — you can meet friends for coffee and spend the day exploring shopping malls and stores.
For example, you can find a T-shirt for 500 rubles (7 USD) or jeans for 3 000 rubles (42 USD).
If you want to shop more quickly and affordably, you can use online shopping apps. Besides clothing, you can also buy home goods, food, games, furniture, and many other products there.
