Moving to Russia from Missouri

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Missouri to Russia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Missouri to Russia, you would find that Russia is 42.8% cheaper than Missouri. A $75,000 salary in Missouri would need to be roughly RUB3,919,650 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 66°F in Columbia, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Missouri and Russia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 RUB3,919,650

To maintain the same standard of living in Russia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 53.6% less

Groceries

pay 43.7% less

Transportation

pay 38.1% less

Housing

pay 65.2% less

Childcare

pay 64.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 47.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 73.1 RUB (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Missouri to Russia.

Living there in 2020
4,583

people born in United States live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Russia compared to Missouri.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MO
37.5%
RU
23.1%

Russia performs significantly better than Missouri across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MO
88.3%
RU
88.0%

Missouri performs better than Russia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MO
3.3%
RU
3.3%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MO
$56,344
RU
$39,800

Missouri generally does better on employment & economy, though Russia leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MO
75.1 yrs
RU
72.4 yrs

Missouri performs better than Russia across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Columbia Rain: 46.3 in/yr (1175 mm)
66° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Moscow
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Moscow
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Russia

Visa Required
United States passport holders need a visa to enter Russia.
Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Russia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 Missouri?

On average Russia is about 29% less expensive than Missouri, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Russia?

Budget about RUB979,912 for 3 months in Russia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Russia?

From major Russia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Missouri and Russia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Missouri?

Russia performs significantly better than Missouri across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Russia compared to Missouri?

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

The official language in Russia is Russian. In Missouri, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

RU
Population 5,988,927 142,021,981
Currency United States Dollar ($) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages English Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +7
Time zones 11 9
Emergency number 911 112