Our respondents and their key budgeting categories
Among the 11 participants of our survey, 73% were international students. We also received replies from Russian students and ITMO university staff.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, their main spending categories were:
- Groceries;
- Transport;
- Mobile plan;
- Eating out.
Among other popular categories were clothes, dormitory fees, entertainment, and streaming services. Now, let’s take a closer look at these categories.
Food
More than half of our respondents stated that they spend less than 10,000 rubles a month on groceries, while the ranges of 10,000-15,000 rubles and 15,000-20,000 rubles were selected by 36% of respondents each. We believe that the amount spent on groceries largely depends on preferred eating habits: you will naturally spend less in this category if you prefer eating out to cooking and vice versa. Nevertheless, while the exact amount may vary, you are likely to spend under 15,000 rubles per month on your groceries.
Credit: ITMO.NEWS
As for eating out, there was a greater variability of answers, with some of our respondents spending between 3,000 and 5,000 rubles on cafes and restaurants, others – over 5,000 rubles, and some specifying they preferred eating at home.
Credit: ITMO.NEWS
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Accommodation
Students residing at ITMO University dorms can expect to pay under or just about 2,000 rubles a month for their accommodation, as evidenced by our survey.
If you decide to rent, the prices vary depending on a whole list of factors, including the season, whether you are renting an entire apartment or a single room in one, its proximity to public transit, and included amenities. While our respondents cited 15,000 rubles and 25,000 rubles as their accommodation expenses, you can expect to pay anywhere between 15,000 rubles and upwards of 35,000 rubles for a single-room apartment in the city.
Read also:
Renting an Apartment in St. Petersburg: Ultimate Guide
Dorm Life 101: Lessons Learned From Living in a Shared Space
Transport
Being a student in St. Petersburg is very convenient: you get a discounted student travel card, with costs varying between 430 rubles and 1,305 rubles depending on the transportation modes you choose to include. This is why 64% of our respondents spend 1,000-2,000 rubles per month on transport.
Credit: ITMO.NEWS
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Mobile services
In terms of mobile plans, we have seen a great diversity of replies: a third of our respondents spend over 500 rubles per month in mobile fees, while another third tends to spend around 250-400 rubles. The prices, of course, largely depend on the operator you choose and your personal mobile habits.
Credit: ITMO.NEWS
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Miscellaneous
When asked about their entertainment spending, the majority of respondents indicated that they spend less than 2,000 rubles per month in this category. You can follow our regular guides to the most vibrant free or affordable cultural events in the city to save money and make the most of your student years in Russia’s cultural capital.
Among the expenses not included in our survey, the most common ones were clothes (typical spending not indicated) and medical expenses (1,000-2,000 rubles).
Read also:
Winter is Coming: Grab Some Warm Clothes
Total
On average, if you are staying in a dormitory, using your student travel card, balancing between cooking at home and eating out, and going to a few cultural events a month, you can expect to spend around 20,000 rubles (including mobile plan and some extra expenses).
If you are looking to rent a room or an apartment, this total can be increased by an additional 15,000-25,000 rubles, making it about 35,000-45,000 a month.
We believe that this can be helpful in planning your expenses as a student in St. Petersburg. Check out this article for some general budgeting tips from our team.
