Due to the ongoing military conflict in the Ukraine, along with sanctions and boycotts, it is not recommended to travel to Russia.
How much does it cost to travel to Moscow?
You should plan to spend around $65 (₽5,855) per day on your vacation in Moscow. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $15 (₽1,315) on meals
- $6.29 (₽566) on local transportation
- $83 (₽7,436) on hotels
A one week trip to Moscow for two people costs, on average, $911 (₽81,974). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Moscow has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Moscow expensive to visit?
Moscow is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Russia, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Moscow is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Novi Sad, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Avignon.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Moscow Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Moscow?
The average Moscow trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Moscow travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
₽7,436
($83)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
₽566
($6)
|
|
Food 2
|
₽1,315
($15)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
₽1,471
($16)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
₽11 -
34
($0 - 0)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
₽364 -
1,091
($4 - 12)
|
Accommodation Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Moscow is $41 (₽3,718). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Moscow is $83 (₽7,436). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Moscow? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Moscow is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $6.29 (₽566) per person, per day, on local transportation in Moscow.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$6.29
₽566
How much does it cost to go to Moscow? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Moscow will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Moscow are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Moscow, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Food Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Moscow can vary, the average cost of food in Moscow is $15 (₽1,315) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Moscow should cost around $5.85 (₽526) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Moscow is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$15
₽1,315
Typical prices for Food in Moscow are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Moscow, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Moscow typically cost an average of $16 (₽1,471) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$16
₽1,471
Typical prices for Entertainment in Moscow are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Moscow, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Theater Tickets
₽1,150
-
Kremlin Entry (2)
₽1,000
Tips and Handouts Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Moscow is $1.28 (₽115), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$1.28
₽115
Alcohol Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $8.08 (₽727) on alcoholic beverages in Moscow per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$8.08
₽727
Water Budget in Moscow
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.71 (₽64) on bottled water in Moscow per day. The public water in Moscow is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.71
₽64
Last Updated: Aug 27, 2024
Moscow on a Budget
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.
The city's geography is created by the many "Ring Roads" that circle the city at various distances out. The Red Square and the Kremlin are at the very center and the ring that is closest in is the Boulevard Ring, or Bulvarnoye Koltso. The next ring road is the Garden Ring, or Sadovoe Koltso and the third ring is the most recent, and rarely used by tourists.
Moscow has a humid continental climate that has long and cold winters. Winters usually start in mid November and continue through the end of March. Summers are warm although temperatures can vary widely. Winter temperatures can drop to -25 degrees Celsius. During the warmer summer months temperatures hover around a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius.
Sights
Moscow has countless sights for tourists, some of them world famous, and others more off the beaten path. Sights and attractions include Red Square, the Kremlin, Old Arbat Street, Bolshoi Theatre, Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin Museum, Novodevichy Convent, the Church of the Ascension, Ostankino Tower, and the Institute of Russian Realist Art. For even more ideas and places to see, check out this article about
essential places to visit in Moscow.
Neighborhoods
Moscow is divided into six districts that are referred to as okrugs. The "ring roads" create the basis for the neighborhood network with the Kremlin at the center. Most of the historical buildings and interesting sights can be found within the Boulevard Ring. There are many museums within the Garden Ring and the hotels, restaurants and shopping areas are spread throughout the entire city. The area that stretches from the Kremlin to the Boulevard Ring is called the "Bely Gorod" or "White Town" because of its white stone walls. The area from the Boulevard to the Garden Rings is called "Zemlyanoi Gorod" or "Earth Town". The Kremlin has many cathedrals, palaces, a concert and congress hall and, famously, the seat of presidential power. The area spreads over one and a half miles and is surrounded by red brick walls. On the eastern side is Red Square.
Activities
There are many different activities you can enjoy around Moscow. There are two circuses, the
Nikulin circus and the new circus near the University. Many visitors also enjoy the Obraztsov Puppet Theatre, the Novaya Opera and the Moscow Ballet. Also try and visit a Russian bathhouse which is an interesting experience. Russian cooking classes can also be fun, as is a visit to the Kva-Kva Water Park.
Food and Dining
Eating out in Moscow can be very expensive, but there are options that are more affordable if you can figure out where the locals eat. You will pay a significant markup if you go to restaurants that are designed specifically for foreigners. You can find business lunch specials at many of the smaller restaurants within the Sadovoye ring. These deals are usually available between the hours of noon and 3:00 pm and usually include a cup of soup or appetizer, a small entree, bread, and a drink. There are also American chains around including McDonald's and TGI Fridays. They are reasonably priced but no better than you might expect back home. Other affordable dining options include food courts and smaller cafes.
Transportation
You can travel around Moscow by metro, bus, trolleybus and tram. The central part of town can be explored on foot, but because the city is so big, you will be more efficient if you plan your day around the metro system. It is comprehensive and cheap to use. In general, it is about a three minute travel time between each station, although there are some exceptions to this rule.
There are both bus and trolleybus routes along most of the larger streets. Most of the buses and trolleybuses operate only during the daytime but there are several night routes as well. There is usually a bus stop roughly every 500 feet, or 150 meters. If you're outside of the city center then you may find yourself taking a bus to the metro, as the metro stops are farther apart. In general, there is no schedule for the buses and trolleybuses because they are heavily influenced by traffic, but they are frequent enough that this is usually not a problem.
Trams are much less common now that the metro and trolleybuses have become a major form of transportation. It is more common in some districts than others, but in general, most of the tram routes have been replaced by trolleybuses.
Another option for transport in Moscow is the Marshrutka. This is somewhere between private tranport and traditional buses. They usually follow the same routes as buses and are comparable to minibuses. In general, they're a little faster than buses although the drivers can be reckless.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.