Study and Living Costs
Here you can find everything you need to know about university tuition fees, scholarships, and cost of living in St. Petersburg.
On this page
• Tuition fees
• Scholarships
• Cost of living
• Accommodation
• Food
• Mobile and internet services
• Transport
• Entertainment
• Working while you study
Tuition fees
Fees vary from program to program, so please check individual program pages for accurate information:
A Bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete, while Master’s and PhD degrees – two and about three (with possible extensions for the latter) years, respectively.
Scholarships
Besides fee-based options, ITMO also offers a wide range of opportunities – from government scholarships to various contests – to enroll into its programs without any tuition fees. Here’s everything you need to know about studying at ITMO for free.
Cost of living
When coming to Russia, you’ll have to change the currency of your home country to rubles, the national currency of Russia. The most reputable banks in St. Petersburg are Bank Saint Petersburg and Sberbank (partners of ITMO University), while other popular options include Alfabank, VTB Bank, Tinkoff, and some others.
Although living expenses at university may vary greatly for each student, here is a rough estimate of what you might expect to spend while living in St. Petersburg, plus some great budgeting tips and tricks and average monthly budgets of our students.
• Accommodation
While staying in university dorms can cost as little as 1,210 rubles/mo, renting an apartment is a more pricey option. The average monthly rent in St. Petersburg ranges between 15,000 and 35,000 rubles (plus utility bills) depending on the number of rooms in the apartment and its location (remember: the closer the accommodation is to the city’s center, the more expensive it is). If you decide to look for your own place, here are our tips on how to search for an apartment and what to consider when choosing one.
• Food
The city has a variety of convenience stores and supermarkets, including those working 24/7. While Magnit, Pyaterochka, and Dixy are the most budget-friendly places to shop, Perekrestok and Vkusvill are at a little pricier end of the spectrum, and such larger chains as Karusel, Auchan, O’Key, Lenta usually offer more options and rather keen prices.
Apart from various grocery stores, you can also take advantage of the city’s food delivery services (learn where and how here) and enjoy a meal out at one of the city’s many restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, bars, and so on.
The city has a rich and diverse food scene with plenty of options for all tastes, whether you enjoy high-end restaurants with various cuisines or have a special love for coffee and pastry. St. Petersburg is a great food destination for vegans and vegetarians, too. Here you will find all of our articles about meat-free living in the city.
To know what to expect price-wise, check out the Numbeo website and our article on what you can afford on 100 rubles.
• Mobile and internet services
Investing in a local SIM card is the best way to stay in touch and save on high roaming costs while studying abroad.
Luckily, Russia has many phone and internet service providers with the most popular being MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2, Rostelecom, and Yota. On average, you will pay around 400 rubles/mo for your phone services, including mobile traffic, and around 450 rubles/mo for internet at home.
If you’re considering buying a local SIM card, check out these nifty tips on where and how you can do it in Russia.
• Transport
St. Petersburg can boast a rather convenient transport system with relatively low travel costs. As of 2024, a single metro ride costs 70 rubles, while a one-way bus, tram, or trolleybus ticket is 65 rubles. Students can purchase a special transport pass that offers unlimited travel on the metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses for 1,205 rubles/mo. You can also opt for separate passes for specific types of transport, or a Podorozhnik pass, which allows you to gradually lower your travel costs (the more you travel, the less you pay).
Read this article to learn more about public transport in St. Petersburg and this one to discover how it’s currently changing.
• Entertainment
With its countless museums, picturesque locations, and vibrant lifestyle, St. Petersburg can offer a wide range of activities to fit all tastes and, most importantly, wallets. Apart from numerous free events, students can also enjoy free or significantly discounted entry to the city’s museums, theaters, parks, etc. Follow our trusty weekly guide to always know what’s on in the city.
• Working while you study
Working while studying is a great way to not only cover some of your study and living expenses but also gain your first work experience. Students taking a full-time educational program can work part-time (up to 20 hours/week) on or off campus without having to obtain any work permits. If you’re interested in working at your alma mater, head here to find the available job openings at ITMO.
For more information about the university, student life, living in Russia, and other exciting topics, visit our news portal ITMO.NEWS available in both Russian and English.