Many of our fellow citizens are interested in what is the minimum cost of living in Moscow. Let's try to understand this issue in more detail.
Probably every Russian has heard of such a concept as the minimum cost of living. But not everyone understands what exactly it means, why it is needed and how this amount is calculated.
What it is?
The cost of living in our country involves determining the real value of the so-called conditional consumer basket. In other words, this is the amount of the amount a person needs every month in order to satisfy his most minimal needs in terms of nutrition and providing the necessary conditions for survival.
The concept of "living wage" is mainly statistical in nature and serves to identify the standard of living and income of the population. Thus, there are two main groups of people - poor and not poor. The first category includes citizens whose monthly income is below the minimum subsistence level. The second category of the population is citizens whose income exceeds the amount set as the “living wage”.
The minimum cost of living in Moscow
If we consider the issue from the point of view of the realities of life of Russian citizens, in particular people living in the capital, the amount recognized by the state as a “living wage” is not enough for a Muscovite to provide himself with essential goods. Most residents of our main metropolis, according to numerous social surveys, argue that this amount is sorely lacking to live on them for one calendar month.
In addition, it is believed that the minimum living wage of a pensioner in Moscow is greatly underestimated.
Nevertheless, the state clearly defined the list of needs that a Russian citizen is experiencing, and the satisfaction of which is the main condition for his survival. The so-called minimal consumer basket is “filled” with these needs.
The composition of the minimum consumer basket
This concept conditionally includes two categories of the simplest needs of Moscow citizens per person. The first category includes necessary food products, and the second - non-food products, as well as services. A table on the cost of living in Moscow will be presented below.
The quantity and volume of these needs for the able-bodied population is determined for a year. This list includes:
- bread, as well as other bakery products, cereals, pasta, legumes, etc. - 127 kg;
- potatoes - 101 kg;
- vegetables - 115.5 kg;
- fruits and berries - 61.5 kg;
- sugar, as well as confectionery - 23 kg;
- meat and meat semi-finished products - 57.5 kg;
- fish - 19.5 kg;
- dairy products - 295 kg;
- eggs - 220 pieces;
- various types of oil (vegetable, cream, etc.) - 12 kg;
- tea, coffee, spices, salt, etc. - 5.5 kg.
Non-food group
What else affects the minimum subsistence level in Moscow? Non-food basket. It contains, as a rule, clothes, household items and personal hygiene, as well as various types of services, including utilities. This group includes:
- outerwear - 3 pieces for 7.5 years;
- light outerwear - 7 pieces for 4.5 years;
- linen - 10 pieces for 2.5 years;
- socks, tights, etc. - 6 pieces for 1.5 years;
- hats, haberdashery - 4 pieces for 6 years;
- shoes - 5 pairs for 3.5 years;
- writing instruments - 2 pieces for 1 year;
- household and various household goods - 18 pieces for 11 years;
- bedding and sleeping accessories - 13 pieces for 8 years;
- sanitation and personal hygiene items, as well as medicines - 11% of the amount of money spent monthly on non-food items.
The minimum cost of living in Moscow, in addition to food and non-food items, also includes some services. In accordance with the law and the size of the "living wage" in the capital, one adult able-bodied person annually needs:
- provision of living space - 18 square meters;
- residential heating - 6.9 Gcal;
- water (both cold and hot, including drainage) - 285.5 liters per day;
- electric power - 50 kWh;
- gas supply - 11 cubic meters (monthly);
- use of vehicles - 628 times a year;
- cultural services, sports, etc. - 5% of the monthly amount provided for payment of services;
- other services - 16% of the monthly amount used to pay for services.
What is the minimum cost of living in Moscow, not every resident of the capital knows.
Minor Benefits
In accordance with the laws and regulations approved specifically for residents of the capital, the subsistence minimum is also used to calculate certain social benefits for citizens, which are provided for by federal laws and other regulatory legal acts. It can be:
- additional cash benefits for the birth of children to young families (in order to stimulate the birth rate in the country);
- monthly cash assistance to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation a lump sum payment in the form of compensation for reimbursement of expenses associated with the adoption of children;
- monthly child allowance;
- utility payments subsidies;
- monthly payments to single mothers in the form of compensation in connection with an increase in the cost of living.
The size of these benefits can also affect the cost of living in Moscow.
Objectives of establishing a living wage
In addition to the above payments, the cost of living is also taken into account when calculating social scholarships for students from low-income families, when registering for programs to improve housing conditions, calculating subsidies for paying for the use of premises, providing legal assistance free of charge, etc.
The minimum cash payment for life is also calculated for different categories of the population, which include:
- able-bodied citizens;
- pensioners;
- children.
For each of them in the capital there is a separate living wage, the value of which is determined in accordance with the special needs of citizens belonging to a certain category. Subsequently, this value is taken into account in the process of assessing the living standards of Moscow residents, as well as for planning the implementation of social support for those in need.
Features of calculating the minimum cost of living in Moscow
This amount is calculated in accordance with the results of the last quarter and is based on special data received by state statistics bodies for the city of Moscow on the level of food prices, as well as non-food items necessary for citizens.
The subsistence minimum is determined quarterly by a government decree, and comes into force from the moment it is published in official sources.
Value for different categories of Muscovites
This amount is calculated individually for different categories of the population of Moscow. Thus, there are three types of living wage:
- for able-bodied citizens;
- for pensioners;
- for children.
For the latter, the cost of living is minimal, but it is maximum for the working population of the city of Moscow.
The cost of a conditional consumer basket in the capital is slightly higher than in other regions of Russia. This is because life in this city is much more expensive.
As a result, the subsistence minimum here is 17 674 rubles for able-bodied Muscovites, 13 453 rubles for children, and 10 874 rubles for people of retirement age.