Moscow is Russia's sprawling capital and largest city, a global metropolis blending centuries of history with modern dynamism. Home to iconic landmarks like the Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow offers world-class museums, vibrant nightlife, and a rich cultural scene.
Local currency: Russian Ruble (RUB).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Moscow.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $15-20 (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $30-50 (budget hotel or private hostel room)
- Midrange
- $70-100 (3-4 star hotel)
- Luxury
- $200-400+ (5-star hotel)
Food
- Street
- $3-6 (pirogi, shawarma, blini kiosks)
- Local
- $8-15 (stolovaya canteen, casual restaurants)
- Midrange
- $20-35 (Georgian, casual dining, café)
- Fine
- $60-120+ (White Rabbit, Twins Garden, Selfie)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.60 per ride (55 RUB with Troika card)
- Taxi
- $5-15 for city center rides via Yandex Go
- Airport
- $25-40 from Sheremetyevo by Aeroexpress + metro
- Daytrip
- $15-40 for elektrichka train day trips
Activities
- Museum
- $8-15 (Tretyakov, Pushkin, Historical Museum)
- Sites
- $5-12 (Kremlin grounds, Kolomenskoye)
- Tour
- $20-50 (group walking tour or day excursion)
- Excursion
- $40-80 (organized day trip to Golden Ring)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Moscow costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$280-350 for 7 days (hostels, stolovayas, free activities)
Midrange traveller
$700-1000 for 7 days (mid-range hotels, restaurant dining, major museums)
Luxury traveller
$2500-3500+ for 7 days (5-star hotels, fine dining, private tours)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy a Troika card at any metro station for discounted metro and bus fares (55 RUB vs 65 RUB cash)
Visit museums on free days - many offer free entry on the third Sunday of each month
Eat at stolovaya (Soviet-style canteens) for cheap, filling, authentic Russian meals ($5-8 per meal)
Use the metro instead of taxis for all cross-city travel
Book accommodation in neighborhoods just outside the Garden Ring for 30-40% lower hotel prices
Many parks and outdoor attractions are completely free
Grocery stores (Perekrestok, Lenta) offer excellent value for self-catering and picnics
Aeroexpress train ($7) is far cheaper than taxi from Sheremetyevo airport
Look for set lunch menus (biznes-lanch) at restaurants - same food at 30-40% lower prices
Buy souvenirs at Izmailovo Market and bargain rather than paying fixed prices on Arbat
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Red Square
Free to walk around the iconic square with views of Saint Basil's Cathedral and Kremlin
Alexander Garden
Beautiful garden adjacent to the Kremlin with Eternal Flame and Kremlin tower views
Gorky Park
Large recreational park along the Moscow River - free to enter
Sparrow Hills Viewpoint
Best panoramic view of Moscow, free and accessible at any time
Arbat Street
Historic pedestrian street with street performers and souvenir watching
Moscow Metro Art Tour
Ornate Stalin-era metro stations are free to explore while using normal transit
Zaryadye Park
Modern park near Red Square with floating bridge over Moscow River - free
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour exterior
Impressive cathedral exterior and riverside terrace free to view from outside
Novodevichy Cemetery exterior
Walk along the cemetery walls and view famous gravestones
Victory Park (Poklonnaya Hill)
Memorial park with free outdoor exhibits and eternal flame
Kolomenskoye Estate grounds
Historic riverside estate with free outdoor areas and river views
Patriarch's Ponds
Charming neighborhood pond immortalized in Bulgakov's novel - free to visit
Park Muzeon sculpture garden
Open-air garden of Soviet-era statues adjacent to Gorky Park - free
Bitsa Forest Park
Large urban forest with free walking and jogging trails
Izmailovo Park
Enormous urban park with forest, ponds, and free walking areas