Moving to Russia from Belarus
What to Expect
Considering a move from Belarus to Russia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Belarus to Russia, you would find that Russia is 33.3% more expensive than Belarus overall. A BYN214,615 salary in Belarus would need to be roughly RUB8,204,069 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Belarus and Russia.
What does your salary buy?
BYN214,615 → RUB8,204,069
To maintain the same standard of living in Russia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 35.1% more
Groceries
pay 38.0% more
Transportation
pay 41.3% more
Housing
pay 45.8% more
Childcare
pay 2.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.8% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Russia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Belarus to Russia.
Who's moving to Russia?
Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.
- 3,268,263
- 2,558,907
- 1,146,175
- 766,918
-
5.763,879
Belarus
- 591,025
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Russia compared to Belarus.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Belarus performs better than Russia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Belarus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Belarus generally does better on environment, though Russia leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Russia generally does better on infrastructure, though Belarus leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Belarus generally does better on employment & economy, though Russia leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Belarus performs better than Russia across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry for Taxes and Levies of the Republic of Belarus, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Minsk | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 68°/51°F (20°/11°C) | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C) | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Minsk | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°/14°F (-4.2°/-9.8°C) | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) |
| Feb | 28°/16°F (-2.5°/-8.9°C) | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) |
| Mar | 36°/23°F (2.4°/-4.8°C) | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 52°/35°F (10.9°/1.8°C) | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) |
| May | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 70°/52°F (21.3°/11.1°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 72°/55°F (22.3°/12.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) |
| Aug | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) |
| Sep | 62°/46°F (16.5°/7.8°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 50°/38°F (9.9°/3.3°C) | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.1°/-1.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) |
| Dec | 29°/21°F (-1.5°/-6.2°C) | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) |
Data:
Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and enviromental monitoring,
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belarus and Russia. To live, work, or study long-term in Russia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Russia's immigration authority.
Belarus passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Free
Russia passport holder visiting Belarus
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Russia than Belarus?
On average Russia is around 42% pricier than Belarus, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Russia?
Budget about RUB2,051,017 for 3 months in Russia (based on a BYN214,615 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Russia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Russia: 24.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Russia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Russia safe for expats?
Belarus performs better than Russia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Belarus.
How is healthcare in Russia compared to Belarus?
Belarus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in adult obesity rate. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 44.7 in Belarus. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belarus: 79).
What's the weather like in Russia compared to Belarus?
The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 50°F in Minsk. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Minsk gets 26.7 in.
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language in Russia is Russian. In Belarus, the official languages are Belarusian and Russian.
