Counterfeit money!

Beware of scams!
Never exchange currency in random places! Street traders may give you fake banknotes!
Get cash only at a bank, exchange office or ATM!

In Russia, there are so-called souvenir fake currency, very similar to real banknotes. Most often 1000 and 5000 ruble notes are forged.

Check money you get from random people, such as in taxicabs!

Money and payments in Russia

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RUSSIA
Online helper for travelers

Which currency to take?

Please remember! In Russia, you can pay for any purchases in Russian rubles only! Any carriers and sellers never accept cash in dollars (euro). If you`re asked to pay in $/€/£ etс, beware, this is a fraud! Learn more about cash, cards, exchange
Credit cards or cash?
Probably 50 / 50
Payments by card is widely available in Russia, especially in large stores. If the seller accept cards - it`s your thing, because this is the most economic and safe method - your bank will convert the payment into rubles according to the internal rate.

Not all types of cards are accepted in Russia - e.g. American Express not everywhere. We advise you to take for the trip Visa & MasterCard, incl synchronized devices. They are accepted almost everywhere.

On the other hand, small shops, taxi or public transport (on board) often do not accept credit cards.
So it`s better to always have cash
Find out if a seller accepts cards before purchase or to placing your order.

Russian currency

Banknotes
Below are the most common banknotes of the Bank of Russia. Sometimes, in cash, relatively rare notes of 5 and 10 rubles. In addition, there are limited series (years 2014 - 2018) of commemorative banknotes of 100 rubles
Coins
Below are the most common coins of the Bank of Russia. Coat of arms on coins from 2016 may differ. In addition, there are limited series of commemorative coins
- in the main 10 rubles coins
ATMs
The best and safe way to obtaining Russian rubles is through ATM cash withdrawals. No need to keep dollars or euros in your pocket and finding an ATM will be very easy. Besides, despite the small fee, the rate of currency issued by the ATM will be the most profitable for you!
Your bank will convert currency into rubles according to the internal rate.

Good tip. Let your bank know before trip in advance that you will be traveling to Russia and set cash out limit.
Currency Exchange
In Russia, US dollars and euros can be exchanged at any bank and exchange point. Other currencies are exchanged only in large offices. To change big sums (over ₽40,000 ~ $600) need to provide your ID. Look for signs 'CURRENCY EXCHANGE' or 'ОБМЕН ВАЛЮТ' - in Russian with current exchange rates for $ and €

Good tips. Do not exchange your currency at the airport - exchange rate there is not profitable. Never accept the offer of street traders to exchange your money!
Exchange Rates
Calculate the purchase price or amount to exchange. The rate of Central Bank of Russia is indicated. The actual rate may slightly different.
By default, USD and Russian rubles are listed. Replace the data in the form, if necessary.
Useful phrases in Russian
How and where to exchange currency in Russia. Money and payments in Russia. Useful phrases in Russian.
How to ask something in Russian, if you don`t know a single word in Russian? There is an exit! We have collected for you all necessary words and phrases in English and translated them into Russian.

Open the dictionary and click the desired phrase or word. You will see the translation into Russian, as well as the phrase in Russian in Latin letters. Dashes below indicate stress (accent) a certain syllable in a word.

Pay attention to the rules of pronunciation. Transliteration is given for the classical Latin alphabet and does not match with the rules of orthography and pronunciation of English.

If you doubt the correct pronunciation, click on the live audio link in Russian
Link to sound
You will be presented with a short slide show with the correct pronunciation from a native speaker.
Numbers in Russian
If you buy something or exchange money, you can add the word "RUBLEY" (rubles) to the number indicating the purchase amount. But this is not necessary. Enough to pronounce the number only.

For example - 200 ₽
Two hundred (+ rubles) - in English
DVESTYE (+ RUBLEY) - in Russian

Numbers in Russian
0 - 9

10 - 19

20 - 99

100 - 999

1K - 5Mln
Hi / Hello!
[ PRIVET ! ]

Привет!

Link to sound
Do you speak English?
[ VY GAVARITE PA ANGLIYSKI ? ]

Вы говорите по английски?

Link to sound
I don't speak Russian
[ YA NE GAVARYU PA RUSSKI ]

Я не говорю по русски

Link to sound
► Where is BANK / ATM / Currency Exchange ?
Where is ..?
[ GDE NAKHODITSA ..? ]
ГДЕ НАХОДИТСЯ ..?
or just
[ GDE ..? ]
ГДЕ ..?

NOTE. The Russian word "НАХОДИТСЯ / NAKHODITSA" is optional. You can pronounce the phrase with or without this word.


▼▼▼


Bank
[ BANK ]
БАНК

ATM (Cash machine)
[ BANKAMAT ]
БАНКОМАТ

Currency Exchange point
[ ABMENNIK ] or
[ ABMEN VALYUTY ]

ОБМЕННИК / ОБМЕН ВАЛЮТЫ

(ENG / RUS in Latin - transliterated / RUS in Cyrillic)

Link to sound

FOR EXAMPLE :

Where is the nearest Currency Exchange ?
[ GDE (NAKHODITSA) BLIZHAISHIY ABMENNIK ? ]

ГДЕ (НАХОДИТСЯ) БЛИЖАЙШИЙ ОБМЕННИК ?

Where is the ATM here ?
[ GDE (NAKHODITSA) BANKAMAT ? ]

ГДЕ (НАХОДИТСЯ) БАНКОМАТ ?
_______________________________

VERY IMPORTANT! In Russia, you can pay for purchases in Russian rubles only! Any carriers and sellers never accept CASH in dollars, euro, etc. If you`re asked to pay in $/€/£ etс, beware, this is a fraud!
Payments by card is widely available in Russia. It`s the most economic and safe method - your bank will convert the payment into rubles according to the internal rate. We advise you to take for the trip Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay in any currency, incl synchronized devices. They are accepted almost everywhere.

However, some shops, cafe, taxi or public transport (especially in small provincial towns), sometimes do not accept card payments. So it`s better to always have a little cash. Find out if a seller accepts cards before purchase or to placing your order.

WARNING!!! Never accept the offer of street traders to exchange your money! Learn more about cash, cards, exchange here:
https://inrussian.info/money_eng

LINK TO TRAINING VIDEO WITH NATIVE SPEAKER

Want to know more? See also:
ALL BASIC PHRASES IN RUSSIAN
I want... / I need...
[ YA KHACHU .. ] - I want ..

[ MNE NUZHNA .. ] - I need ..

Я хочу / Мне нужно

Link to sound
How much? / How many?
[ SKOLKA ? ]

Сколько?

Link to sound
How much it this?
[ SKOLKA ETA STOIT ? ] -

Сколько это стоит?

Link to sound

additional info
Figures are here, and the currency converter is here

Links to chapters:
Shop / Market and Cafe / Restaurant

Very expensive! Too expensive!
Very expensive -
[ OCHEN` DORAGA ]

Too expensive -
[ SLISHKAM` DORAGA ]


Очень дорого / Слишком дорого

Link to sound
I`m buying it!
[ YA ETA PAKUPAYU ! ]

Я это покупаю !

Link to sound
Do you accept credit cards?
[ VY PRINIMAYETE KARTOCHKI ? ]

Вы принимаете карточки?

Link to sound
I will pay - with cash / by credit card
[ YA ZAPLACHU - NALICHNYMI / KARTOY ]

Я заплачу - наличными / картой

Link to sound
Yes / No
[ DA / NET ]

Да / нет

Link to sound
Ok! / Good!
[ KHARASHO ]

Хорошо

Link to sound
I don't understand
[ YA NE PANIMAYU ]

Я не понимаю

Link to sound
Repeat, please
[ PAVTARITE PAZHALUSTA ]

Повторите, пожалуйста

Link to sound
Slower (slow down), please
Slower please
[ PAMEDLEN`NEYE PAZHALUSTA ]

ПОМЕДЛЕННЕЕ ПОЖАЛУЙСТА

or

Could you slower?
[ MOZHNA MEDLEN`NEYE ? ]

МОЖНО МЕДЛЕННЕЕ ?

LINK TO SOUND
Thank you (very much) !
[ (Balshoye) SPASIBA ! ]

(Большое) спасибо!

Link to sound
Goodbye!
[ DASVIDANIYA ! ]

До свидания!

Link to sound

UPDATED ON: SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 | SEE ALSO:

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