Russia
The world's largest country, cut off from most Western travelers since 2022.
Flat. The exchange rate moved +2.6%; local prices rose +6.5%.
- Lean
- $41
- Comfort
- $227
Off the board while a Level 4 advisory stands.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Russia: costs for US-dollar travelers are about the same as a year ago in real terms (−0.2%). A mid-range day costs about $93 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 4 (do not travel). The country is not ranked while that advisory stands.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 42
- Price floor ×0.30
- 54
- Safety ×0.20
- 0
- Ease ×0.14
- 70
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | −0.4% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | −0.2% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +2.6% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +6.5% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | −10.2% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 4 | Do not travel |
| Ease of travel | 3.8 / 5 | Well set up |
- Moscow and St. Petersburg
- The Trans-Siberian railway
- A weak ruble
Most Western governments advise against all travel. Foreign-issued cards do not work, direct flights from the West are gone, and detention risk is real.
When to go
November is off season- Janoff season
- Feboff season
- Maroff season
- Aprshoulder season
- Maypeak season
- Junpeak season
- Julpeak season
- Augpeak season
- Seppeak season
- Octshoulder season
- Novoff season
- Decoff season
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 4: Do not travel · updated December 28, 2025
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Well set up · 3.8 / 5
Russia, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Russia?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Russia costs about $41 on a lean budget, $93 mid-range and $227 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Russia cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- It is about the same. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved +2.6% for US-dollar holders while prices in Russia rose +6.5%, a net real change of −0.2% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Russia is 10.2% more expensive.
- Is Russia safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Russia at Level 4: Do not travel. Most Western governments advise against all travel. Foreign-issued cards do not work, direct flights from the West are gone, and detention risk is real. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Russia?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are: April, October. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in: May, June, July, August, September. Right now (November) is off season.
- How easy is Russia to travel around?
- Russia scores 3.8 out of 5 for ease of travel (well set up), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. The world's largest country, cut off from most Western travelers since 2022.
Elsewhere in Europe
- Türkiye
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Serbia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- North Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Moldova
- Hungary
- Poland
- Czechia
- Portugal
- Greece
- Spain
- Italy
- France
- Croatia
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Cyprus
- United Kingdom
- Sweden
- Norway
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Finland
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Andorra
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Liechtenstein
- Ukraine
- Belarus
- Kosovo
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Russia reads −0.2% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $93. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.