A 100 ruble bill, which equals about 1.5 USD or 1.3 Euro today, probably won’t buy you a decent cup of coffee in St. Petersburg, but it can go surprisingly a long way.
The easiest place to get the most bang for your ruble is the grocery store. You’re particularly in luck if you like vegetables - the staples like potatoes, carrots and onions run at about 20 rubles a kilogram. Add to that tomatoes and apples at about 60 rubles, and you’re all covered in the fiber department.
If you’re more like me, you’d be heading to the instant soup aisle, where a 100 rubles will also last you a few days. Here you can pick from the most basic instant ramen (12 rubles), mashed potatoes (12 rubles), instant soup powder in chicken, pea and tomato flavors that cover your coffee mug with a delectable oily film (15 rubles) or even splurge on Korean-style noodles (36 rubles) that have permanently burnt my taste buds.
Thinking healthy thoughts? Go for a four-pack of yogurt (about 25 rubles per cup), a loaf of bread (20 rubles), or bottled water (15 - 100 rubles). Don’t get fooled by processed cheese (9 rubles a pack) and instead, try some Russian cheese (about 90 rubles for 200 grams).
Your 100-ruble budget will also go some way around the house. You can get two mugs at 50 robles each, or a bottle of dishwashing liquid (95 rubles), or a two packs of toilet paper (44 rubles each).
Feel like going out? Plan on two metro tokens (45 rubles each), or a McDonald’s cheeseburger (75 rubles) or a concert program at the Philharmonia (100 rubles).
Or you can just go for 20 lollipops.
Here’s more on the cost of living in Russia. Disclaimer: most prices as seen at a Lenta supermarket.
