The rising prices of cars in Russia have become comparable to the cost of some apartments, a trend highlighted by Autonews.ru and RBC Real Estate in a joint analysis. The study compares car prices with housing costs, revealing how automotive bargains and real estate values move in tandem in today’s market climate.
According to data from the Domklik portal, the most affordable apartment option is found in Orenburg, where houses still under construction are selling for an average of 3.7 million rubles. For an extra 100 thousand rubles, buyers can secure a GAC GS8 from China, bringing the total to about 3.8 million rubles. This juxtaposition underscores how a single additional investment can tilt the balance between owning a home and acquiring a vehicle, especially when parallel imports influence availability and pricing in the local market.
In Ulyanovsk, housing is priced around 5 million rubles on average. At the same price point, a buyer could opt for a Toyota Camry sedan obtained through parallel import from China, illustrating how vehicle choices can mirror the cost of a modest apartment. In Samara, the average apartment price climbs to 5.4 million rubles, and the same budget would buy an all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Tiguan L. The presence of parallel imports from China continues to shape the local automotive options available to budget-conscious buyers.
Saratov presents housing at roughly 5.6 million rubles on average. An alternative to a flat is the top-end Kia Sorento with a 2.5-liter engine, available for about 5.5 million rubles via parallel import. In Yekaterinburg, the market shows a similar dynamic: housing costs around 7 million rubles, but a Mazda CX-9 crossover can be obtained for the same amount, highlighting how crossover models are increasingly positioned as apartment-equivalent purchases for some buyers.
Across St. Petersburg, Omsk, and Irkutsk, the average price for an apartment sits near 7.5 million rubles. Buyers are offered an automotive analogue to a premium SUV, such as the Avatr 11, a Chinese crossover matching the cost of a mid-range apartment in this tier. In Moscow and Sevastopol, apartments average 11.4 and 11.7 million rubles respectively, with the Porsche Macan crossover priced at about 11.8 million rubles offering a compelling alternative for those weighing housing against a high-end vehicle. The underlying message across these markets is clear: the line between owning a home and owning a vehicle is becoming increasingly blurred as parallel imports expand the set of available options for consumers.
Recent industry chatter notes a strategic shift within domestic manufacturers, including AvtoVAZ, which has discussed involving younger generations and students in the production process. This development signals broader efforts to reorient the automotive sector toward new talent pipelines and potential cost efficiencies, factors that may, over time, influence both car pricing and the overall affordability of mobility in Russia.