Moving to Russia from Ohio

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ohio to Russia, you would find that Russia is 42.2% cheaper than Ohio. A $75,000 salary in Ohio would need to be roughly RUB3,914,605 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 76°F in Columbus, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 RUB3,914,605

To maintain the same standard of living in Russia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 52.8% less

Groceries

pay 38.9% less

Transportation

pay 41.1% less

Housing

pay 65.4% less

Childcare

pay 66.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.4% 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.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Russia cost about 17% less than cities in Ohio.

Ohio

Dayton 58%
Akron 53%

Russia

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Ohio 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 Ohio.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

OH
39.5%
RU
23.1%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

OH
89.0%
RU
88.0%

Ohio 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

OH
4.0%
RU
3.3%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

OH
$60,669
RU
$39,800

Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Ohio leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

OH
75.3 yrs
RU
72.4 yrs

Ohio 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.

Columbus Rain: 46.8 in/yr (1188 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbus Moscow
Jan–Mar 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/62°F (29°/16°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/71°F (32°/21°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Columbus Moscow
Jan 58°/37°F (14.2°/2.7°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 62°/40°F (16.7°/4.5°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 77°/53°F (24.8°/11.4°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 84°/62°F (28.9°/16.6°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 90°/70°F (32.2°/20.9°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.4°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 86°/67°F (30.2°/19.3°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.1°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 59°/39°F (15.2°/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 Ohio?

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

How much money do I need to move to Russia?

Budget about RUB978,651 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 Ohio and Russia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Ohio?

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

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

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 76°F in Columbus. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Columbus gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

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

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At a Glance

RU
Population 11,536,504 142,021,981
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