 Teaching English in Russia, the Salary and Budget Guide The following guide will help you answer the question, How much can I earn and save while teaching English in Russia? You will also find information on the local cost of living in order to figure out how much to budget for when moving to Russia. The typical salary for English teachers in Russia. Russia is an emerging star on the EFL market today. Teaching English in Russia can therefore be both a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. Unlike some other TEFL destinations, teachers in Russia don't have much choice in terms of what type of school they work for. Public schools don't hire foreign teachers, which makes private language institutes the most common workplace for TEFL qualified teachers in Russia. Depending on your work experience and qualifications, English teachers in Russia can expect to make between US$1,000 and US$1,200 per month. Those teaching at a university or international school, however, usually earn higher salaries of between US$1,500 and US$2,000 a month. The salary also depends on where you are based. Most teachers settle in one of the two big cities Moscow or St. Petersburg, where teachers are traditionally paid the highest salaries, but they also have a higher cost of living compared to smaller towns and cities around Russia. How to earn extra cash while teaching English in Russia? Although most Russians study English during their senior school years, the level of instruction is often poor. This leads to many people wanting to improve their language skills once they join the workforce as a way of moving up the employment ladder. Therefore, private language instruction is in very high demand all over the country and many teachers top up their salaries by taking on private students for tutoring. Typically, you can easily find students by word of mouth. However, many schools have policies against tutoring students in your free time, so you should be informed and discreet. The cost of living in Russia. While the cost of living in Russia is on the rise, it is still considerably lower than in most western nations. Outside of the major cities, the cost of living is even cheaper and food and transportation costs are only a fraction of a teacher's monthly salary. Many school contracts also include accommodation. Failing that, many people without housing benefit choose to share an apartment with fellow teachers. The comparably high salary as an EFL teacher allows you to live a comfortable lifestyle during your time in Russia. Many teachers can enjoy a lifestyle they wouldn't be able to afford back home, such as traveling every month, eating out on a regular basis and going out to bars and clubs regularly. Below, we break down the cost of living in Russia for individual aspects. Cost of living in Russia, food. Eating out at local restaurants and buying your produce and ingredients at local markets and shops will allow you to gain an amazing insight into the Russian way of life and also have more money in your pocket for fun and adventure. Milk, 1 litre. 65.75 rubles. Eggs, 12.76 rubles. Apples, 1 kg. 93 rubles. Chicken breast, 1 kg. 282 rubles. Rice, 1 kg. 68 rubles. Bottle of water, 1.5 litres. 43 rubles. Bottle of Russian beer, 0.5 litres, 100 rubles. Cost of living in Russia. Leisure activities. Russians are very social and like hanging out with friends and family and there is also a lot to do for visitors in Russia. Most people enjoy frequent meals out so be sure to try your way through the wide range of Russian cuisine while you're there. You can explore local attractions in your free time, sign up for a gym membership or go out with friends. Russia's leisure activities have something for everyone. Free course mid-range restaurant dinner. 2,500 rubles. Quick restaurant meal. 600 rubles. McMeal at McDonald's or equivalent combo meal. 350 rubles. One month fitness club membership. 2,838 rubles. Movie ticket, international release. 400 rubles. Cost of living in Russia. Transportation. The convenient public transit network that links cities throughout this vast nation. Taxi prices are extremely affordable and pimes and subways are inexpensive allowing you to explore your city and beyond. Metro ride. 55 rubles. Taxi rate per kilometre is 11 rubles, start fare rub 100. City bus. 55 rubles. Monthly bus and subway pass, 2,000 rubles. Cost of living in Russia. Travel in Russia and beyond. Russia is the largest country in the world, allowing you to explore a variety of landscapes and attractions without having to leave the borders. The local express trains are incredibly fast and affordable and domestic flights are also very cheap. One night in a mid-range hotel. 6,000 rubles. High speed train, Moscow to St. Petersburg, 3.5 hours. 4,000 rubles. Slow train, Moscow to St. Petersburg, 9 hours. 5,800 rubles. To flight, Moscow to St. Petersburg, 1 hour. 1,500 rubles. To flight, Moscow to Vladivostok, 8 hours. 15,000 rubles. Sample monthly teacher budget. To give you an example of how an English teacher in Russia spends their salary, here is a sample monthly budget. Gross income, salary. Average salary 82,000, 1,200 US dollar, rubles. Rent. Zero, paid for by employer rubles. Utilities, electricity, gas, water. 7,840 rubles. Phone and internet. 680 rubles. Foodpoint 10000 rubles. Insurance. 2000 rubles. Remaining disposable income. 61,480 rubles. 905 US dollar. How much you can save when teaching English in Russia? As you can see from the sample budget above, the salaries in Russia allow you to save substantial sums of money during the length of your contract. Because rent is usually paid for by the employer, you will save a lot of money that would otherwise go on housing. Depending on your lifestyle, ESL teachers in Russia are easily able to save in the region of 500 US dollar a month. Are you ready to teach English in Russia? For more information about living and teaching English in Russia, check out our Russia country page. Apply now for your TEFL TESOL certification course and start teaching in a matter of months. Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad. Send us an email or call us toll free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today. Speak with an ITTT advisor today. Speak with an ITTT advisor today. Speak with an ITTT advisor today. Speak with an ITTT advisor today. Speak with an ITTT advisor today.