Groceries
Nearly every popular grocery store in Russia now has its own loyalty program app where you can get personalized discounts, coupons, and bonus points to spend on your next purchase. Among the ones most commonly found in St. Petersburg are Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, Magnit, Lenta, Dixy, VkusVill, and Spar. Apart from all the financial benefits, depending on the app you’ll also be able to learn what’s in season currently, pick up some simple recipes, find out about new products, and, of course, practice your Russian with every use of the app.
Tip: when you move into your dorm/flat, scout out the area to see which stores are nearby. Download their apps to join their loyalty programs.
Conveniently, these days you can also order food online – to be delivered to your door in under 30 minutes. In St. Petersburg, the two most popular services are Samokat and Yandex Lavka, although most stores mentioned above now also offer delivery. Apart from their own personalized discounts and promo codes, we find that ordering online is a way to save money in itself: you get to see the total price right away and avoid unnecessary shopping temptations.
Additionally, some long-lasting staples, such as canned goods, pasta and grains, or plant-based milk, can be ordered in bulk from Ozon or Kuper. On Ozon, you can also apply for an additional discount with some sellers and accumulate bonus points to be spent on future purchases with others.
Looking for plant-based options? Offline the best-stocked stores in this regard are VkusVill and Perekrestok; online, both Samokat and Lavka have good options, while many of the others will also have more to offer for delivery than you’d find at an actual store. For a greater variety of vegan foods, check the specialty stores in this post.
As for ready-made food, the best options are VkusVill and especially Spar, with an entire section of the store devoted to everything from salads to pizza.
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Clothing
The city can boast a vast and versatile network of stores, from fast to hard fashion, and anything in between – but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune for a little treat or a wardrobe makeover.
If you’re looking to buy clothing on a budget, your go-to places should be chain stores like befree, MAAG, Ostin, Sela, Gloria Jeans, Familia (for off-price clothes), Sportmaster (for sports and winter gear), or kari (for shoes). Just as with your groceries, never forget about loyalty programs – they might be a real money saver! In case online is more up your alley, you can find treasures on Lamoda, Ozon, or Wildberries.
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Thrift shopping and swap parties are a great option, too. This isn't only an eco- but also a budget-friendly way to look chic and score high-fashion pieces – you can check our guide to second-hand shopping here and swap parties are oftentime hosted at ITMO (keep an eye on our Telegram) or around the city. What you should also keep in mind is the “last size” section at stores and, of course, sales and end-of-season sales in particular. The best time to look around for deals is Black Friday (November), as well as summer (around July-August) and winter (around January-February). This way, you can keep costs lower – and be clothes-ready beforehand.
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Electronics
When it comes to various gadgets and appliances, there are plenty of store chains to choose from. However, thrifty buyers often prefer retailers like Onlinetrade, Citilink, or DNS – often described as discounters, these stores tend to have a less sizeable selection on-site, but will deliver online orders within days (or even on the same day) to a pick-up location of your choice. Just remember to consult with your dorm’s regulations regarding electronic appliances before buying that toaster!
Tip: upgrading your devices? Keep in mind that almost all electronics chains in Russia offer some type of a trade-in program for a handy discount.
Looking for something that’s already out of production, rare, or maybe simply hoping to save even further? Avito, the largest Russian classified ads platform, is a true treasure trove. Simply refer to our comprehensive guide before you dive in!
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Home goods
Among the key local stores where you can get household items are Maxidom, Domovoy and Leroy Merlin (Lemana Pro). We’ve talked about these and other options in our story on how to make your place clean & cozy – check it out for more details.
You can also take a look at home decor sections of clothing stores, such as the one at SIN – it’s full of cute inexpensive ornaments. Also, if you browse carefully enough, you can find wonderful crockery and other home goods at the popular off-price store Familia, which we’ve already mentioned above.
Looking for some of that hygge vibe? Consider shopping at Enkel. Here, you can find reasonably priced products including furniture, utensils, bedding, and so on. And for some cutesy bric-a-brac to cozy up your dorm space, pop by Modi.
Once your room or an apartment is fully equipped, you might need help with storing and organizing your belongings. See our tips on how to do that in our recent article.
