Cost To Visit Moscow: Travel Budget Guide (2026)
Moscow can be surprisingly affordable for meals and transit, but lodging, tours, and experiences can raise your budget fast. Here's a detailed cost breaks down hotels, food, transportation, attractions, day trips, and more.
What this guide includes:
- An in-depth look at Moscow travel costs—including a detailed daily breakdown of what you’ll spend on accommodations, food, attractions, transportation, day trips, and more.
Moscow uses the Russian ruble (RUB). Prices have been converted from RUB and are only shown in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.
Is Moscow Cheap To Visit?
Yes—Moscow can be affordable on the ground if you travel like a local—use the metro and stick to casual cafés and restaurants. Day-to-day costs like public transit and simple meals are often lower than in many major U.S. cities, and dining can be cheaper than in a lot of big European capitals.
Where Moscow gets expensive is when you start stacking premium choices, like:
- Central luxury hotels in high-demand areas
- Private drivers, airport transfers, and guided tours every day
- High-end cultural experiences—top seats for ballet, opera, and major shows
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Moscow Vacation Costs
Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Avg. Accommodation Cost
Peak
- Budget Travelers: $55–$120 per night
- Mid-Range Travelers: $140–$280 per night
- Luxury Travelers: $350–$900+ per night
Shoulder-Season
- Budget Travelers: $45–$105
- Mid-Range Travelers: $120–$250
- Luxury Travelers: $320–$820+
Off-Season
- Budget Travelers: $40–$95
- Mid-Range Travelers: $105–$230
- Luxury Travelers: $290–$750+
Food Cost
Budget Travelers
- Breakfast: $4–$10
- Lunch: $8–$16
- Dinner: $12–$25
Mid-Range Travelers
- Breakfast: $10–$18
- Lunch: $16–$28
- Dinner: $30–$70
Luxury Travelers
- Breakfast: $18–$30
- Lunch: $28–$55
- Dinner: $90–$220+
Transportation Cost
Moscow Airports → City (typical options)
Moscow has multiple airports, and pricing depends on which one you land at and where you’re staying.
Aeroexpress train (airport rail link)
- One-way: $6–$12
- Round trip: $12–$24
Metro / public transit
- Metro/tram/bus rides are generally low-cost, and the metro is the fastest way around central Moscow.
- Typical daily transit spend (with multiple rides): $2–$6
Taxi / rideshare
- Short ride: $6–$15
- Longer ride: $15–$35+
Tip: pricing can surge with traffic and weather, so don’t assume taxis are always cheap.
Car service / private driver
- Private transfer: $35–$120+
- Private driver (half-day): $90–$180+
- Private driver (full day): $160–$320+
Attractions
- Red Square & St. Basil’s exterior: free (exterior viewing)
- Kremlin / Armory / cathedral entries (varies by ticket): $10–$40+
- Tretyakov Gallery: $6–$18
- Pushkin Museum: $6–$18
- Bolshoi Theatre (tickets vary widely): $25–$250+
- River cruise (seasonal): $12–$45
- Observation decks (varies): $8–$25
- Guided city tour: $20–$80 (group) • $120–$300+ (private)
Day Trip Costs
| Day Trip | Transportation Cost (Round Trip) | Top Attraction | Attraction Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergiev Posad | $6–$18 (train/bus) • $120–$260 (private car) | Trinity Lavra monastery complex | Free–$10+ |
| Kolomna | $10–$25 (train) • $160–$320 (private car) | Kolomna Kremlin + old town | Free–$12+ |
| Zvenigorod | $6–$18 (train/bus) • $120–$260 (private car) | Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery | Free–$10+ |
| Golden Ring-style day tour (varies) | $50–$140 (group tour) • $220–$480+ (private) | Historic towns + churches | $10–$40+ |
| Moscow river cruise (seasonal) | $2–$10 (metro/taxi to pier) | City skyline cruise | $12–$45 |
| Patriot Park / Kubinka (niche) | $10–$30 (train/taxi mix) • $160–$340 (private) | Military museum park experience | $10–$35+ |
- Need help filling your itinerary? Russia's Most Beautiful National Parks
Moscow's Daily Budget Needed
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $55–$120 |
| Shoulder | $50–$110 |
| Off-Season | $45–$100 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $130–$260 |
| Shoulder | $120–$240 |
| Off-Season | $110–$220 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $350–$900+ |
| Shoulder | $320–$820+ |
| Off-Season | $290–$750+ |
Weekly Travel Budget For Moscow (7 Days)
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $385–$840 | $140–$315 | $20–$70 | $80–$260 | $625–$1,485 |
| Shoulder | $315–$735 | $130–$300 | $18–$60 | $70–$240 | $533–$1,335 |
| Off-Season | $280–$665 | $120–$280 | $16–$55 | $65–$220 | $481–$1,220 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $980–$1,960 | $245–$490 | $35–$120 | $140–$420 | $1,400–$2,990 |
| Shoulder | $840–$1,750 | $230–$455 | $32–$110 | $130–$400 | $1,232–$2,715 |
| Off-Season | $735–$1,610 | $220–$420 | $30–$100 | $120–$380 | $1,105–$2,510 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $2,450–$6,300+ | $520–$1,200+ | $120–$420+ | $250–$950+ | $3,340–$8,870+ |
| Shoulder | $2,240–$5,740+ | $480–$1,100+ | $110–$390+ | $230–$900+ | $3,060–$8,130+ |
| Off-Season | $2,030–$5,250+ | $450–$1,000+ | $100–$360+ | $220–$850+ | $2,800–$7,460+ |
Flight Cost
Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports typically have cheaper flights than smaller airports.
Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:
- Peak: $750–$1,450
- Shoulder: $650–$1,250
- Off-Season: $550–$1,050
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Moscow Travel Seasons
Peak Season
Moscow’s peak season is usually June through August, when warm weather brings the biggest crowds and the highest demand for hotels—especially in central areas. This is also when festivals and events ramp up, so popular museums and day tours can book out faster.
Shoulder Season
Moscow’s shoulder seasons are typically April through May and September through October. You’ll often get a better mix of comfort and value—fewer crowds than summer, good sightseeing weather, and more hotel availability without peak-season pricing.
Off-Season
Moscow’s off-season is generally November through March. This is the coldest stretch and often the best time for hotel deals and thinner crowds, but expect shorter days and more time spent indoors—museums, theaters, shopping centers, and cozy cafés.
- Why it’s cheaper: fewer tourists and more lodging availability.
- Tradeoff: cold weather and shorter daylight.
Yes—often. For many travelers, $2,000 can cover a comfortable week in Moscow, especially if you use the metro and choose a mid-range hotel (assuming double occupancy for lodging).
- Budget Travelers (7-day total): $481–$1,485
- Mid-Range Travelers (7-day total): $1,105–$2,990
- Luxury Travelers (7-day total): $2,800–$8,870+
A realistic $2,000 / week breakdown (per person) for mid-range travel might look like:
- Lodging: $900–$1,400
- Food: $250–$450
- Transport: $35–$120 (metro-heavy)
- Attractions/tours: $150–$350
If you add premium theater tickets nightly or rely on private drivers, you’ll want a higher budget.
- Tverskoy / near Red Square: walkable to major sights, highest hotel demand.
- Arbat: central, tourist-friendly, and often priced above average.
- Patriarch Ponds: trendy dining/nightlife area with upscale boutique stays.
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