Way to Russia Talk Lounge

tdk2fe · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 8:44 am Post subject: Cost of Going out in Russia

Just had a question regarding the cost of going out and drinking in Russia. This summer i'm going to be staying in Saratov, a town of less than 1 million people. I'm staying with a host family, so i'm not concerned about the cost of room and board. I was wondering though, in a town of Saratov's size, how much a casual meal would cost, in addition to drinking for a night.

I saw on WTR average costs of beer and food, but I didn't know if that only applied to big towns like St. Petersburg and Moscow. Thanks for the help,

tdk2fe

renwan · Talk Show Host Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 204

In Ufa a "Belyi Medbed" beer can cost you maximum 17 rubles in a kiosk, and thats the most expensive beer you find in a kiosk...
In clubs drinks go from 40 to 500 rubles...depending on what.

Entrance to clubs is regulary: 150-250 rubles in normal day, somedays free for girls and others for mans, when there are special parties cost is higher, ah all clubs ahve fliers,just try to find them...

russia is cheap as hell,dont worry...

vorteks · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:36 pm Post subject:

Vic · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject:

Beer is good and cheap. I suggest "Sibirskaya Korona" - a 0.5L bottle goes for 16 roubles in Omsk (Saratov should be the same) Great beer by the way! If you like the quality/taste of Budweiser, buy "Starui Melnik", its a little cheaper and about the same. "Imported" beer is twice more expensive for the same taste/quality. Baltika N3 and Baltika N7 aren't bad, I don't like them though. Best place to buy them is kiosks or SMALL grocery stores. If you are planning a get together or just do not want to go back and forth to the store every time you want one (and your host family has nothing against it) buy a yashik (Box) 20 bottles for about 300 to 380 roubles depending on the beer! Same bottles...just in one nice, beautiful box.
Vic

Mogsfan · WayToRussified Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 490

I have read that it's a different story in the bigger cities. Or is it cheap all over now? I thought Moscow and St. Petersburg was generally expensive since they are (bigger) metropolitian cities. Is wine cheap? I try not to drink beer anymore. The *only* reason I would is because it's usually cheaper (at the bar). Wink

rodionx · Frequent Guest Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 19

The cost of beer and wine in the provinces is generally less than what it is in central Moscow, but not by a lot. In Bashkiria, the local beer is Shikhan, and you can get a half-litre bottle for about 13 rubles. I knew a kiosk in the suburbs of Ufa where they sold it for 11 rubles. If you get a half litre of beer in a cafe, it will cost about 25 rubles and up.

With beer (13 rubles), sukhariki (5 rubles), and a park bench in the summer (free), you've got yourself a night out in the provinces.

As for wine, I recall getting a drinkable bottle for 100 rubles. You can get a really, really good Georgian wine for around 450 rubles.

Intourist · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Cost of Going out in Russia

tdk2fe · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 11:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info. When i go out I do tend to drink quite a bit, and right now i'm going to school in a small town in the Midwest US, so you can get pretty drunk for about $15 here... Just trying to plan my finances accordingly.

vettra · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 2:24 am Post subject: