Russia
Eastern Europe / Eurasia
EuropeNon-EU
Very low living costs and a flat personal-tax system, but international sanctions, banking isolation and political risk make Russia a difficult and high-risk relocation choice in 2026.
43
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 98% data coverage
Language
RussianCurrency
RUBCitizenship
5 years (fast-tracks exist)Personal tax
Progressive 13%–22%Cost of living
$800 / mo (single)Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.
Score breakdown
51
Access
17%45Residence12%
66Citizenship and passport5%
77
Earning power
25%72Salary and work12%
81Buying power13%
47
Business and wealth
20%72Taxes7%
42Business8%
21Investment5%
70
Daily life
25%69Quality of life18%
73Education7%
18
Rights and institutions
13%14Freedom6%
22Rule of law7%
Weak rights and institutions (18) cut the overall score from 57 to 43.
Pros
- Flat 13–15% personal income tax
- Very low cost of living
- Affordable universities
Cons
- Heavy sanctions & banking isolation
- Political/legal risk; conscription concerns
- Limited international mobility (weak passport access)
Best for
Russian-speakers with regional tiesSpecific niche relocations
Score profile
Access
Residence
45
Citizenship
69
Passport
59
Earning power
Salary & work
72
Buying power
81
Cost of living
89
Economy
78
Business and wealth
Taxes
72
Personal tax
60
Corporate tax
29
Business
42
Investment
21
Wealth building
58
Daily life
Safety
49
Healthcare
88
Environment
91
Infrastructure
68
Education
73
HDI
83
Rights and institutions
Freedom
14
Rule of law
22
Access
Residence
Openness to residents
45Moderate
Migrant stock5.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-1.07 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Main pathways
Temporary residence permit (RVP)Permanent residence (VNZh)Highly Qualified SpecialistInvestment-based residence
| Student | Student visa; work allowed with permit. |
|---|---|
| Work | Work permit / HQS route for skilled foreign hires. |
| Self-employed | Self-employed ('samozanyatyy') 4–6% regime; company formation possible. |
| Permanent | Permanent residence (VNZh) after a temporary permit period. |
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
69Good
| Years required | 5 years of permanent residence (fast-tracks for some categories) |
|---|---|
| Dual allowed | Yes |
| Language | Russian language exam + history/law test |
| Residence | Permanent residence with continuous stay |
| Notes | Sanctions and exit/financial restrictions materially complicate relocation; seek up-to-date advice. |
Passport
Passport power
59Moderate
116 / 198
Mobility
#48
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
- Visa-free64
- On arrival49
- eTA3
- Visa required82
Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.
Earning power
Salary & work
Labour-market strength
72Good
Output per worker$84,935 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.1% (2025)
Participation61.1% of 15+ (2025)
| Tech salary (estimate) | $15,000–35,000 (constrained by sanctions) |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Cross-border payments difficult under sanctions |
| Job market | Strong domestic IT talent; international engagement curtailed. |
Buying power
Purchasing power score
81Excellent
GNI / person$49,220 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$23,820 PPP (2024)
Price level37 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality33.0 Gini (2023)
Inflation8.7% / yr (2025)
Cost of living
Affordability
89Excellent
Price level37 (US = 100) (2025)
| Rent | $400–800 (1BR Moscow) |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $800 |
| Cities | Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan |
Economy
Economic strength
78Good
Output & income
GDP$2.6T (2025)
GDP / person$17,547 (2025)
GNI / person$49,220 PPP (2025)
GDP growth4.3% / yr (2024)
Stability & labour
Inflation8.7% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.1% (2025)
Output per worker$84,935 PPP (2024)
Sector composition
Agriculture3.1% of GDP (2025)
Industry29.7% of GDP (2025)
Services58.9% of GDP (2025)
Main industries
Oil & gasMetals & miningDefence & armsAgricultureNuclear energy
Top exports
Crude oil & gasMetalsWheatFertilisersArms
| Type | Upper-middle-income, hydrocarbon- and resources-driven |
|---|---|
| Key sectors | Energy (oil, gas, nuclear), Metals & mining, Grain agriculture |
| Summary | A large resource-driven economy reliant on oil, gas and metals, reshaped by sanctions since 2022. |
| Currency | Russian ruble (subject to sanctions and capital controls) |
Business and wealth
Taxes
Tax friendliness
72Good
| Personal | Progressive resident rates of 13%–22% |
|---|---|
| Corporate | 25% |
| Capital gains | 13% |
| Dividends | 13% |
| Exit tax | None standard; capital controls in force |
| Foreign companies | CFC rules apply |
Personal tax
Personal tax
60Moderate
| Personal | Progressive resident rates of 13%–22% |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Self-employed regime: 4% (individuals) / 6% (businesses) on turnover |
| Capital gains | 13% |
| Dividends | 13% |
| Exit tax | None standard; capital controls in force |
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
29Low
| Corporate | 25% |
|---|---|
| Capital gains | 13% |
| Dividends | 13% |
| Foreign companies | CFC rules apply |
Business
Business friendliness
42Limited
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-1.07 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.32 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Operating rules
| Foreign company | Permitted in law, but sanctions heavily restrict cross-border activity |
|---|---|
| Local company | OOO formation possible; banking access is the practical hurdle |
| Freelance | Self-employed regime: 4% (individuals) / 6% (businesses) on turnover |
Investment
Investing environment
21Low
Market cap32% of GDP (2023)
Private credit55% of GDP (2021)
| Capital gains | 13% on gains; foreign-market access severely limited by sanctions |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Data not available yet |
| ETFs & funds | Data not available yet |
| Wealth tax | None |
| Brokers | Domestic brokers only; foreign assets largely inaccessible |
| Foreign access | Data not available yet |
| Tax-advantaged | Data not available yet |
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
58Moderate
Salary & work
72Good
Business
42Limited
Investment
21Low
Tax friendliness
72Good
Cost of living
89Excellent
Daily life
Safety
Safety & stability
49Moderate
Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.89 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.90 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.
Healthcare
Healthcare score
88Excellent
Outcomes
Life expectancy73.4 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality5.2 per 1,000 births (2024)
Capacity & resourcing
Physicians5.11 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds6.81 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$3,204 PPP / person (2023)
System & costs
| System | Universal public (OMS) + private |
|---|---|
| Insurance | OMS for insured residents; private clinics in cities |
| Average cost | Low; private cover inexpensive locally |
Environment
Environment score
91Excellent
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure11.6 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress4.1% (2022)
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
68Good
Digital infrastructure
Internet use94.4% (2024)
Internet resilience60 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed74 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed57 / 100 download index (2026)
Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index
Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses8.4% of output (2023)
Transport
Transport quality2.70 / 5 (2022)
Rail density5.2 km / 1,000 km² (2021)
Air connectivity5,462 departures / million people (2023)
Education
Education score
73Good
Attainment
Expected schooling13.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.4 years (2023)
Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment60% gross (2024)
Education spending4.2% of GDP (2023)
| Tuition | $3,000–7,000 / yr |
|---|---|
| Public university | Low; government quota scholarships for some foreigners |
| Languages | Russian, English (limited programs) |
| Student work | Work permitted with appropriate permit |
HDI
Human development score
83Excellent
HDI0.832 (2023)
Knowledge
Expected schooling13.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.4 years (2023)
Rights and institutions
Freedom
Freedom score
14Low
| Freedom in the World | 12 / 100 (Not free) |
|---|---|
| Freedom on the Net | 17 / 100 (Not free) |
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
22Low
| Rule of Law percentile | 22 / 100 |
|---|
Sources
Resources
Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.