Exchanging Money In Moscow

[Bobalouie 0]

I hear ya, Kazan. Because I HAD to get money while in Moscow, we went to an exchange bank (read: Natasha took me by the hand and led me there) and they were rude and unsympathetic. You know, typical customer service there! I exchanged $900, and the rejected 4 of the bills (all new $100). In Volgodonsk, they only rejected one. The exchange rate was always pretty good (in the 26-1 or 27-1 range, last February/March) and the fee seemed pretty low (2% as I recall).

Kirk: I'm almost convinced to just use western union. They only send in dollars, so I'll get the bank exchange rate when I pick it up (I think - I'll have to check with Natasha). I'll pay a fee, but it'll be known and up front, and past experience tells me the more I send, the 'less' this fee is (the rate goes down).

Satellite: Cash always worked for me, too, but I had such horrible luck with rejected bills in Moscow. Come to think of it, the problem was only with $100. The $20s they all took. But I'd hate to bring $3000 in $20s!

You might try waiting outside next time and letting your lady do it for you alone. It is what I have done, and I have never had a bill rejected. I have even taken old nasty bills over there just to see if they would turn her down. I think they will accept anything from a local, but the ferners get the shaft.

[slim 1,533]

Yeah I think once you've proposed, all trust issues are either resolved or should have been resolved.

I have read too many sad stories on here from once happy Russian forum VJ members to know this is far from the truth.

That's the key component of his post.

You might try waiting outside next time and letting your lady do it for you alone. It is what I have done, and I have never had a bill rejected. I have even taken old nasty bills over there just to see if they would turn her down. I think they will accept anything from a local, but the ferners get the shaft.

I was going to suggest the same thing. They will be more accepting if she does it and they'll also not try to scam her. You may just exchange your money, start counting, and realize there was a "fee" for foreigners that wasn't posted anywhere in the small print.

I would also suggest cash. It's easy, and in reality, it's relatively safe. You pay most of it when you get there anyway for your apartment and the rest you can stash in your dirty socks or whatever if you don't want to carry it.

I found that most places in Moscow where large amounts of cash can be spent - (gentleman's) clubs, casinos, restaraunts, bars, large shopping... all were pretty friendly to the Benjamins. Cab drivers didn't seem to mind either. If you're going to stick to things like the neighborhood market and the local dive bar, better have some rubles.

[irish44 0]

I have also located this service:

Contact

Their fees seem to be the lowest (3% if the transfer originates outside the FSU). It's not as convenient, necessarily, as Western Union, since I must specify the actual bank (from their list - MANY in Moscow and even one here in Omaha), but it seems like it would work.

Anyone use this service?

Kevin

I have not used this service but I have used MoneyGram a bunch of times with 100% success. Their rates are 1/3 to 1/2 of western union and have many different send options. They can send to a multitude of banks . All that is needed is your Passport. They do provide a transaction number but my girl in Sochi never had to use it. Good Luck!

[NavarreMan 10]

I'm flying Omaha->Atlanta->JFK->Moscow. I've heard that you get hosed on the exchange rate at the airport. One thought is to western union the money to myself or Natasha, for pickup in Moscow. Another suggestion I got was to open an account at a bank in Moscow remotely and wire the money that way.

I'm still researching.

Hey Kevin,

Two thoughts...

I had Tanya open an account in Taganrog and I wire funds using my credit union. Costs me 13.50 a pop. Chump change. Way cheaper than WU. Money stays at dollar until it is withdrawn at which time the current exchange rate is used. I had no problem withdrawing $500 at an ATM at autobanc. Probably could have done more. If I had my druthers I would rather do it inside the bank and out of view of the public.

Have a safe and happy trip. See you back on this side. 4/8!!!

[eekee 182]

A lot of times banks limit the amount--you could always call your bank, have them raise the limit temporarily, and then take it out from different atms if you don't want to do any wiring/money transfer.

[shikarnov 7]

I bank with Wachovia and whenever I use one of the local ATMs, I get charged $8. To maximize my rate, I just take out the maximum (10, 000 roubles) I've found this to be the cheapest option for me in Ivanovo. WU and Moneygram both charged small fortunes.

Z

[eekee 182]

I bank with Wachovia and whenever I use one of the local ATMs, I get charged $8. To maximize my rate, I just take out the maximum (10, 000 roubles) I've found this to be the cheapest option for me in Ivanovo. WU and Moneygram both charged small fortunes.

Z

I have Wachovia as well and am charged between seventy cents and three dollars. I wonder how that works...

Edited February 9, 2008 by eekee

[Satellite 1]

I bank with Wachovia and whenever I use one of the local ATMs, I get charged $8.

Wow, that's high. Washington Mutual charges $3 per ATM transaction. But I heard First Republic Bank charges nothing. See:

http://www.firstrepublic.com/dep/checking/atmrebate.html

As for credit card use. Both American Express and US Bank charge some kind of international transaction fee. Capital one has no such charge. This is based on experience.

[Bobalouie 0]

My bank (midfirst) charges 10% on the atm transaction, plus a $1 fee for using an out of network atm. So, when I pull out 5000rub, the ATM charge is only $3. Hell, I get charged $1.50 by most banks here in the US plus the $1 out of network fee. The extra 0.50 is no big deal, and 5000 rub lasts me 1.5-2 days. Usually.

Edited February 9, 2008 by Bobalouie

[slim 1,533]

, and 5000 rub lasts me 1.5-2 days. Usually.

5000 rub lasted my buddy only about 15 minutes when he went to Spearmint Rhino. (I was a good little boy and went home to bed early that night. Good thing too after hearing how much they spent supporting the single moms.)

[KGSodie 0]

I don't know why, but it never occurred to me that Natasha would have fewer problems exchanging bills that I would. Thanks for the suggestion! Taking cash is definitely the least expensive way to go, provided they exchange the majority of the bills. I suppose I can always use any rejected bills to pay for the visas ($131 each).

On my trip, 5000 rubles would easily last a week! Of course, we're very small spenders. Trips to the grocery store for food, maybe a trip to the pizzeria, a small gift for Vika, the ever present bus fares. This next trip I hope to experience Russian cinema, since I'm a big movie fan and didn't get the chance last trip.

Thanks for all the thoughts guys, I appreciate it!

[Satellite 1]

Wow guys, the average Russians I know were lucky to make 5000 rubles a month and that lasted for 1 month. How do they manage to that, when everyone myself included will waste that in a week or less?

[KGSodie 0]

You know how it is, Satellite. I didn't throw my money around, but I wanted the experience to be memorable, and when we were out and about in town we'd stop for a milkshake, or a pizza, or to get treats (or whatever was needed) at the grocery story. I knew this wasn't anything anywhere near normal for Natasha and Vika, but I also know they enjoyed being treated to these things. It was a holiday not only for me, but for them too!

[Bobalouie 0]

Wow guys, the average Russians I know were lucky to make 5000 rubles a month and that lasted for 1 month. How do they manage to that, when everyone myself included will waste that in a week or less?

Being a tourist is a lot different than being a local. I blow a lot more money per hour when I'm on vacation anywhere.

The 5000rub I spend in 1.5-2 days was when we took a vacation to St. Pete over New Years. When I stayed in Sochi the last 2 times I went, I only spent $400 each time for 10 days per trip. That included taxi, bus, excurisions, gifts for friends here at home etc. And there is always a big family meal that we have before I go home, and I help pay for that (when they let me. My lady and her family have a bad habit of not letting me pay for anything)

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Our rent, only, when we lived in Kazan' (on local rates not tourist) was 12000 rubles for a three room flat. 5000 can get you by in a month IF you own a flat. We managed to easily get by on 5000 for the rest of our expenses for a month.