Russians can't afford vacations in 2023, surge in prices to blame

The average Russian will not go on vacation this year as they cannot afford even a domestic holiday. According to the independent portal "The Moscow Times," "four-fifths of the citizens are able to spend up to 15 thousand rubles (about $160) on a trip."

Russians living in Moscow and other large cities paint a distorted picture of the reality faced by residents in the rest of the country. That reality is a picture of poverty. The latest evidence on this topic is research published on the portal "The Moscow Times."

It turns out that the majority of citizens of the Russian Federation will not go on vacation this year because they cannot afford it.

Vacations in Russia are now unavailable for 80% of Russians. Most citizens cannot afford domestic holidays due to the sharp increase in local tourism prices, reports the Nexta agency on the X platform.

The Russian economy switched to war mode, incurring enormous costs that affected average residents' wallets. Prices for services and goods are rising. For most Russians, there just isn't enough money for a vacation anymore.

Four-fifths of the citizens are able to spend up to 15 thousand rubles (about $160) on a trip, while the average cost of a vacation is 70 thousand rubles (over $730) - according to precise calculations from the portal "The Moscow Times."

Two-week holidays remain a distant dream. Trips to more distant regions of the country, especially by plane, are also becoming unattainable.

The study shows a clear division within Russian society. 80% of citizens cannot afford a domestic trip. The remaining 20% have the money and eagerly use it. But even when they travel abroad, they cannot expect to be warmly welcomed.