Cost of Living in Kazan, Russia

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How Much Does It Cost to Live In Kazan?

Kazan is the capital of Russia‘s republic of Tatarstan and the center of the world-known Tatar culture.

A city with plenty of tourist attractions, it is located not far from Moscow and can be reached in 4 hours if you’re travelling by a high-speed train.

In many ways, Kazan has one of the highest standards of living in Russia, coming in third after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

People describe this city (very well known for the abundance of sports events organized there) as a very clean city, and very calm in comparison with other cities like Moscow.

RESTAURANTS

When it comes to eating out, Baumana Street has the largest collection of restaurants, cafes, and bars in the city, and you can find some acceptable places where you can eat for around 7$, but be wary as there are also many tourist traps. If you want a touch of the local cuisine, go to Bilyar – an inexpensive restaurant serving Tatar food.

MARKETS

Of course, buying groceries and cooking by yourself is the cheaper option, wherever you are. You can find an assortment of cheap eateries and a reasonably well-stocked supermarket near the town’s bus station. As for fresh fruits and vegetables, you can always buy them at one of the open markets that pop up daily all throughout the city.

TRANSPORTATION

The biggest part of the center is a pedestrian zone, and the main attractions for tourists (like the Kremlin and Bauman Street) are only for pedestrian traffic. However, public transport works well and buses are abundant and cheap, though bus system maps are hard to come by. Taxis are also available, cheap and operate mostly through an on-call service. You can also rent a bike from any of the Veli’k stands placed around the city center.

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Utilities in Kazan are very cheap, and for an apartment of 85m2 all basic utilities, including electricity, gas, garbage services, heating and cooling cost around 100$. Calls to landlines from mobile phones are more expensive than calls to other mobile phones. The coverage is good in the city center and the tariffs are some of the cheapest in the world.

SPORTS & LEISURE

Kazan has just recently earned the reputation of a sports city, due to its involvement in sports event. For example, Kazan organized the World Summer Universiade in 2013, the FINA World Aquatics Sports Championship in 2015 and many others. It’s a city brimming with opportunities to practice sports and stay fit, and if you want this for yourself, you can exercise in any of the gyms and fitness centers Kazan offers for only 20$ a month.

CLOTHING & SHOES

There is a plethora of shopping malls in Kazan, like the popular 6-floor “GUM” or the so-called “Ring”, where you can find plenty of clothes, shoes, perfumes, sports equipment etc. They offer cheap prices for food and beverages as well as reasonable prices for clothing. For example, you can buy a pair of quality jeans for around 65$, while a pair of running shoes of brands like Nike costs around 70$.

RENT PER MONTH

Given the fact that Kazan has the reputation of a city with a high living standard, rent is more expensive here than in many other cities in Russia. Be that as it may, the rent does largely depend on where you want to live and the size of the apartment you’re renting. If you’re looking for an apartment in the very center of Kazan, it will cost you around 340$. However, if you have your eye on the suburbs, the price will drop to at around 230$.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Kazan

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Kazan?

The people of Kazan spend the biggest part of their incomes on food and groceries.

The second biggest expense for the people living here is rent, which is expected since rent is much more expensive in Kazan than in plenty of other Russian cities.

The interesting thing here is that many cities in Russia have rent prices so low, that they’re monthly cost is very close to the monthly cost for restaurant expenses.

Transportation is also an important financial burden for everyone since it’s a necessary expense.

Clothing and shoes are the least important of all expenses, according to these numbers.

Average Costs Breakdown

Kazan: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

The average salary in Kazan is relatively low, taking into consideration the rents and the prices of utilities, transportation and other expenses.

With an average monthly income of around 440$ you can cover all basic expenses, but you can’t save up or indulge in experiences and adventures like traveling.

Minimum wage in Kazan is around 140$ which can definitely be a problem for the residents of this city, since it isn’t even enough to cover all basic needs.

Still, many say that this city offers good job prospects.

Kazan Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Kazan Safety Review

Safety Index:

66

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

Cost of Living by City in Kazan