The cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Russia has risen by an average of about 56 percent over the past five years, according to a study reported by TASS that cites data from CIAN. This trend reflects broad shifts in the rental market across the country, where price growth has been uneven but persistent in many urban centers. While some cities show modest gains, others have seen double-digit or even triple-digit increases, underscoring a long-term shift in how Russians access housing and what renters can expect to pay in different regions.
Kerch stands out as the exception in this period, having recorded a drop in rents when comparing the current data with the winter of 2018-2019. In contrast, a wide swath of other cities experienced notable price rises. In several locales the increases ranged from roughly 20 percent in smaller or more affordable markets such as Vologda, Penza, Sevastopol, Simferopol, and Nizhnevartovsk to well over 100 percent in larger or rapidly developing hubs like Norilsk, Smolensk, Nizhnekamsk, Balakovo, Kislovodsk, and Dzerzhinsk. This spread highlights how local economic conditions, supply constraints, and demand dynamics interact to shape rental costs across the country.
Analysts point out that the largest price increases tended to occur in cities where the baseline offers were the cheapest five years ago. In other words, the more affordable end of the market experienced the most rapid growth as prices adjusted upward from a low starting point. This pattern aligns with the idea that the base effect — a low initial level of rents — can magnify percentage changes when conditions improve or demand rises. It also signals shifting affordability pressures in regions that had previously been accessible to a broader segment of buyers and renters.
Experts describe the situation as a byproduct of a broader economic dynamic in which “the low base effect” amplified price movements. They explain that many of the affected areas are among the second and third most populous cities within financially robust regions, where economic activity and population growth support stronger demand for housing. The result is a cascading effect: as rental markets tighten and available stock remains constrained, landlords raise asking rents, and prospective tenants adjust their expectations and budgets accordingly.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Saint Petersburg — the two largest and historically most expensive rental markets — show a somewhat different trajectory. Rents in these megacities tend to have less dramatic percentage gains because the baseline prices are already high, and supply dynamics differ from those in smaller centers. The data indicate that price growth in Moscow and Saint Petersburg has been comparatively restrained, with notable exceptions in certain districts or during peak seasonal demand. In adjacent resort and coastal areas, such as Saint Petersburg-adjacent territories and Sochi, the increases have not matched the steep climbs seen in some interior cities, reflecting a mix of market maturity and regional travel and living patterns.
Analysts have also pointed to a broader demand-side shift that predated these price movements. There was a notable cooling in demand for secondary housing across Russia, a factor that interacts with supply constraints to shape rent levels. This softer demand environment has not halted price growth entirely, but it has influenced the pace and distribution of increases across different markets. The interplay between demand softness in some segments and price acceleration in others is a key feature of the contemporary rental landscape.
For anyone considering renting or purchasing in this environment, a practical takeaway emerges: pay attention to local market conditions, historical rent baselines, and the availability of supply when forming expectations about future costs. Prospective renters and buyers alike are advised to evaluate regional dynamics, infrastructural development, and the quality of housing stock, as these factors often determine long-term affordability and value. The evolving pattern across Russian cities suggests that while overall rents have risen, the rate and impact of those increases can vary significantly from one locality to another, making localized research essential for sound decision-making.