Minimum wage in Russia depends on the region and linked to the official monthly sustenance level: The minimum salary cannot be lower.

38 regions of the Russian Federation have set their own sustenance levels, thus minimum salaries in these areas are higher than the federal standards.

The federal minimum wage is 11,280 rubles (USD 176) per month

For instance, in the city of Moscow the minimum monthly wage is 19,351 RUB ($330), while the official 2019 federal sustenance level is 11,280 RUB ($176).

Other regions (data: Glavbukh.ru):

• City of Moscow: 19,351
• Republic Khakassia: 18,048
• City of St. Petersburg: 18,000
• Kemerovo: 19,354
• Moscow: 14,200
• Tula: 13,520
• Omsk: 12,972
• Altai: 13,000
• Petersburg region: 12,000
• Kaliningrad: 12,500
• Volgograd: 12,825
• Rostov: 12,351
• Republic of Tatarstan: 12,000

This federal sustenance level rises to 12,130 ($190) from 1 January 2020. Regional indicators will rise automatically in the areas where they are determined by special quotients due to harsh weather conditions. In other areas that are not subject to weather conditions, such decisions are made by the local administration.

There are people who earn such wages in Russia, although officially the average wage in Russia is around 44 thousand RUB.

All salaries in Russia are calculated per month, not weekly, hourly, or annually. If you are talking to a Russian, when they discuss salaries, they are talking about monthly pay checks.

• Highest pay checks are in the industry of mining gas and oil.
• Lowest pay checks are in manufacturing of clothes, leather goods, and furniture.

How the official minimum wage in Russia changed over years

• 2000: 132 RUB
• 2005: 800
• 2011: 4,611
• 2015: 5,965
• 2018: 9,489
• 2019: 11,280
• 2020: 12,130

Read also:

• Half of Russians don’t work in professions they studied
• Russia: Wages are up but income is down, how is it possible?
• Russians spend over 50% of their income on food
• How much money Russians need to be happy?