Quick answer
At a Russian public university, a degree for international students costs between 120,000 and 600,000 roubles a year (about $1,450 to $7,200), depending on the field. Living costs 18,000 to 75,000 roubles a month depending on the city, with Moscow the most expensive. If you don't speak Russian, add a language year of 100,000 to 200,000 roubles.
I studied and lived in Moscow, and this is the question students and their parents ask me most. The good news: studying in Russia usually costs much less than in Europe or the United States. Here are the 2026 numbers so you can plan your budget.
Prices are in roubles, which is how universities charge. To convert them to dollars I used the official October 2026 rate, about 83 roubles per dollar. The rate moves, so treat them as a guide.
Tuition: what the university charges per year
At public universities, a bachelor degree for international students costs roughly this per year:
- Humanities and education: 120,000 to 250,000 roubles (about $1,450 to $3,000).
- Engineering and sciences: 150,000 to 350,000 roubles (about $1,800 to $4,200).
- Medicine and dentistry: 200,000 to 600,000 roubles (about $2,400 to $7,200).
The best-known universities in Moscow and St Petersburg sit at the top of the range. Those in cities like Kazan, Tomsk or Novosibirsk are usually cheaper and very good.
The language year (if you don't speak Russian)
Most degrees are taught in Russian. If you don't speak it, you first do a preparatory year, where you learn the language and core subjects. It costs between 100,000 and 200,000 roubles (about $1,200 to $2,400). There are programmes in English, but fewer of them, and they are usually more expensive.
Where to live: dorm or apartment
- University dorm: 1,000 to 8,000 roubles a month (about $12 to $95). By far the cheapest option.
- Room in Moscow: 20,000 to 45,000 roubles a month (about $240 to $540).
- Shared flat in cities like Kazan or Tomsk: 10,000 to 20,000 roubles a month (about $120 to $240).
How much you spend per month
Adding up food, transport, phone and some social life (not counting tuition), these are realistic monthly ranges:
- Moscow: 40,000 to 75,000 roubles (about $480 to $900).
- St Petersburg: 30,000 to 52,000 roubles (about $360 to $620).
- Kazan or Yekaterinburg: 20,000 to 35,000 roubles (about $240 to $420).
- Tomsk: 18,000 to 28,000 roubles (about $215 to $335).
Other costs to keep in mind
- Student visa: between $40 and $80 for most nationalities.
- Health insurance: 5,000 to 15,000 roubles a year with the university policy (about $60 to $180). It is compulsory.
- Medical tests on arrival and every year, such as the HIV test: 500 to 1,500 roubles.
- Translation and apostille of your diplomas and transcripts: depends on how many documents you have.
- Flights and winter clothes, which in Russia are not optional.
A practical tip: money
Since 2022, Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside Russia don't work there. You need to bring cash in dollars or euros to exchange and open an account at a Russian bank as soon as you arrive. It's worth planning how money will be sent to you from home before you travel.
In short
A student in a city like Kazan, living in a dorm, can cover tuition and living costs with about $5,000 to $7,000 a year, or a bit more depending on the degree. In Moscow, renting a room, the figure can go above $10,000. The city you choose matters almost as much as the university.
Frequently asked questions
Can you study in Russia in English?
Yes, some universities have English programmes, but there are few and they usually cost more. Most degrees are taught in Russian, after a preparatory language year.
Which Russian city is cheapest for studying?
Cities such as Tomsk, Kazan or Novosibirsk have much cheaper tuition and living costs than Moscow or St Petersburg, with good universities.
Do foreign cards work in Russia?
No. Since 2022, Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside Russia don't work there. You need to bring cash and open an account at a Russian bank.
Sources
Updated on 15 October 2026.
About the author
Giovanni Guadalupe
Consultant in digital marketing, imports from China and studying in Russia and China. I took my degree in Moscow, a master's in Minsk and another in Barcelona, and I speak Spanish, English and Russian.
