Cost of living minimum in Russia by year
The cost of living minimum is an estimate of how much money a person needs per month for essentials. It determines benefits, pension supplements and the poverty threshold. The method of calculation has changed over the years: before 2021, the minimum was recalculated quarterly based on the cost of a consumer basket, i.e., the prices of a specific set of goods, products and services. Since 2021, it has been set annually in advance and tied to the median per capita income — the income level above and below which half of the population earns. The table below shows the value for the entire Russian Federation; separate values apply to specific groups such as children and pensioners, and these differ significantly.
18,939 рублей в месяц, 2026
Year by year
| Period | рублей в месяц | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7,306 | — |
| 2014 | 8,050 | +10.2% |
| 2015 | 9,701 | +20.5% |
| 2016 | 9,828 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 10,088 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 10,287 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 10,890 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 11,312 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 11,653 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 14,375 | +23.4% |
| 2024 | 15,453 | +7.5% |
| 2025 | 17,733 | +14.8% |
| 2026 | 18,939 | +6.8% |
What to keep in mind
- Over thirteen years, the minimum increased from 7 306 to 18 939 rubles, i.e., 2.6 times. This growth cannot be directly compared with wage growth: the minimum is adjusted by decision, not by market forces, and in some years it was raised faster than prices — for example, between 2024 and 2025 it increased by 15 percent at once.
- There is no 2022 value in the Rosstat table. This is not a data loss during extraction: the original source does not include a row for this year, and we present the series as published.
- Regional minimums differ: they are set by regional authorities based on local prices, resulting in a twofold variation across territories. The national value serves as a benchmark for federal payments, not as the basis for local benefits.
Questions
What is the cost of living minimum in Russia in 2026?
For the general population, it is 18 939 rubles per month. Values differ for working-age population, pensioners and children: the minimum for working-age individuals is higher than the national average, while for pensioners it is lower.
How does the cost of living minimum differ from the minimum wage?
The cost of living minimum is an estimate of the cost of living, used to calculate benefits and the poverty threshold. The minimum wage is the lowest legally permissible salary. These are different indicators with different purposes, although both are revised annually and the minimum wage cannot be lower than the cost of living minimum.
Why is the cost of living minimum different in my region?
Regional authorities set the regional minimum based on the national value and local prices. It is significantly higher in the North and Far East, and lower in the Black Earth and Volga regions. The dataset underlying this page includes values for each federal subject.
How is the cost of living minimum related to the poverty level?
Before 2021, people with incomes below the cost of living minimum were considered poor. Since then, the poverty threshold has been decoupled from it: it was set at the end-2020 level and is indexed for inflation. Therefore, since 2021 these are two different thresholds and they do not have to coincide.