Moving to Russia from Pakistan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Pakistan to Russia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Pakistan to Russia, you would find that Russia is 3.1 times more expensive than Pakistan overall. A PKR20,869,801 salary in Pakistan would need to be roughly RUB12,225,843 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 84°F in Islamabad, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Pakistan to Russia.
What does your salary buy?
PKR20,869,801 → RUB12,225,843
To maintain the same standard of living in Russia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.8 times more
Groceries
pay 2.2 times more
Transportation
pay 66.8% more
Housing
pay 3.1 times more
Childcare
pay 7.8 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 58.6% 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.
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 140% more than cities in Pakistan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Pakistan to Russia, based on official data.
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
- 763,879
- 591,025
- · · ·
-
51.726
Pakistan
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Pakistan to Russia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Pakistan generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Pakistan 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 performs significantly better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Russia performs significantly better than Pakistan across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Russia performs significantly better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.
Data: Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan, 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 | Islamabad | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Islamabad | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) |
| Feb | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) |
| May | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) |
| Aug | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) |
| Sep | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) |
| Nov | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) |
| Dec | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) |
Data:
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Pakistan 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.
Pakistan passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Required
Russia passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Pakistan?
No — Russia is on average about 112% more expensive than Pakistan. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Russia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RUB3,056,461 in Russia on a PKR20,869,801 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Russia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 24.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Russia safe for expats?
Pakistan generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.2 in Pakistan.
How is healthcare in Russia compared to Pakistan?
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 10.8 in Pakistan. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Pakistan: 45).
What's the weather like in Russia compared to Pakistan?
The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 84°F in Islamabad. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Islamabad gets 49.1 in.
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language in Russia is Russian. In Pakistan, the official languages are English and Urdu.
