The short version
- City rates are almost always better. An airport FX desk charges a premium for urgency: spreads there are easily 1.5 to 2 times wider than at a city bank.
- On small amounts (up to 50–100 USD/EUR equivalent), the difference is tolerable — 100 to 300 rubles. On larger amounts, it's noticeable: 1,500 to 4,000 rubles or more.
- The universal strategy: exchange just enough at the airport for transport into town and the first hour, then do the rest in the city. Detailed amounts and scenarios are below.
- The widget below shows rates at city banks in Moscow — useful for comparison against what you'll see at the airport.
- If you carry a working card (Mir, or UnionPay from certain issuers), there's no need to exchange at the airport at all: taxis, the metro, and cafes accept cards.
Below is the detailed breakdown: why the gap exists, what the numbers look like, and which strategies work for different amounts.
Why airport rates are worse
It's not greed on the airport desk's part — it's the business model of an outlet in a high-rent zone with low repeat traffic.
A city bank deals with customers who can come back. It has a reason to give you a "normal" rate — that's part of competition in retail FX. On top of that, a city desk has lower operating costs than an airport one and a steady flow of transactions, which lets it keep the spread narrow.
An airport FX desk is almost the opposite. Rent at SVO, DME, or VKO is several times higher than in a residential district. Customer flow is transit-only: a passenger exchanges and flies on. Competition between desks in the same terminal exists, but it works slowly — passengers rarely walk the whole airport hunting for a rate that's 50 kopecks better.
The result: the spread at an airport desk is set wide up front. And it works — a passenger with no rubles for a taxi will exchange anyway.
The numbers: what the difference looks like in practice
Exact figures depend on the currency and the current market, but the order of magnitude is this:
- US dollar. City spread — 1 to 2 rubles. Airport spread — 3 to 5 rubles. Per-unit difference — 2 to 3 rubles.
- Euro. City spread — 1.5 to 2.5 rubles. Airport spread — 4 to 6 rubles. Per-unit difference — 2.5 to 3.5 rubles.
- Yuan. City spread — 0.3 to 0.6 rubles. Airport spread — 0.8 to 1.5 rubles. Per-unit difference — 0.5 to 1 ruble.
On 100 USD that's a gap of 200 to 300 rubles. On 500 USD — 1,000 to 1,500 rubles. On 1,000 USD — 2,000 to 3,000 rubles. On 5,000 USD — 10,000 to 15,000 rubles.
Compare city rates right now
The widget below lists Moscow banks with current USD/EUR/CNY rates. Note the rate for the currency you need — and the moment you see the airport rate, you'll know exactly how much worse it is:
Strategy by amount
Up to 50 USD/EUR equivalent. Exchange at the airport. Losing 100 to 200 rubles isn't worth the time spent travelling to a city bank.
50–200 USD/EUR. Exchange 30 to 50 USD (or equivalent) at the airport for a taxi and a coffee, and the rest at a bank in the city. That minimises both losses and stress.
200–500 USD/EUR. Exchange a minimum at the airport for the first hour, and the rest at a bank. At this size, the rate difference already pays for any trip across town.
Over 500 USD/EUR. At the airport, exchange only an emergency minimum; do the main exchange in the city. Ideally at a bank from the widget on day one. More on large amounts — in a separate article.
Comparison table: how much you lose
Amount to exchange | Airport (loss) | City (loss) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
50 USD | ~250 ₽ | ~100 ₽ | ~150 ₽ |
100 USD | ~400 ₽ | ~150 ₽ | ~250 ₽ |
200 USD | ~800 ₽ | ~300 ₽ | ~500 ₽ |
500 USD | ~2,000 ₽ | ~750 ₽ | ~1,250 ₽ |
1,000 USD | ~4,000 ₽ | ~1,500 ₽ | ~2,500 ₽ |
5,000 USD | ~20,000 ₽ | ~7,500 ₽ | ~12,500 ₽ |
The figures are approximate, but the order of magnitude is right. A gap of 500 to 1,000 rubles is more than the cost of a taxi or Aeroexpress ride across the city.
The alternative: don't exchange at the airport at all
A simple but underrated strategy is to arrive in Moscow already holding a ruble reserve. 3,000 to 5,000 ₽ is enough for transport from any airport to where you're staying, plus a taxi and a minimum for food. You can pick up that amount at almost any currency exchange counter in most CIS and Asian countries before your flight.
If you haven't got rubles in advance, exchanging at the airport is unavoidable — and the logic above kicks in.
A third option: if you have a card that works in Russia (a Mir card from a Russian bank, or UnionPay from a supported issuer), taxis, the Aeroexpress, the metro, and shops accept cards, and you don't need to exchange at all. More on this — on cards in Russia.
What to do, step by step
- Before landing. Decide whether you have rubles for transport in. If not, you'll exchange at the airport — and that's fine.
- On arrival. If you do exchange at a desk, check the rate on the rate board. Compare it against the figure in the widget (easy enough over mobile data).
- Exchange the minimum. No need to exchange your whole planned amount right away — change 30 to 50 USD, get to where you're staying, and rest.
- The next day in the city. Compare 3 or 4 banks in the widget, pick one by rate and route, and exchange the main amount without rushing.
- At the bank, remember the basics. Carry your passport (when it's required), bring banknotes in good condition, and recount at the desk.
When airport exchange is a rational choice
There are three situations in which the airport FX desk is the right call.
Late-night arrival. At 2 AM, city banks are closed. If you don't have rubles, there's almost no option other than the airport.
A very short visit. If you're flying in for 1 or 2 days and your total exchange is 50 to 100 USD, saving 300 rubles isn't worth an hour-long trip to a bank.
Transit. If you're connecting through Moscow between two countries and just need to "change a little for food in the airport", the departures-area desks are your friends.
Where to read next
- Currency exchange at Moscow's airports — a detailed guide to SVO, DME, and VKO.
- 24/7 currency exchange in Moscow — what's open at night.
- Which currency to bring to Russia — about preparing before the trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much worse are airport rates in Moscow compared with the city?
The spread at an airport FX desk is usually 1.5 to 2 times wider than at a city bank. On 1,000 USD that's a difference of 2,000 to 3,000 rubles in the city's favour.
At what amount does a trip into the city start to pay for itself?
From around 200 to 300 USD/EUR equivalent, the rate saving in the city typically more than covers the cost of getting there. The exact threshold depends on where you're staying and how far you need to travel.
Can I exchange a small amount at the airport and the rest in the city?
That's the recommended strategy. Change 30 to 50 USD at the desk for the first taxi and a coffee, and exchange the rest the next day at a bank in the city, without rushing.
Which is cheaper: the airport or a 24/7 desk in the city?
Within Moscow proper, 24/7 bank FX desks are practically non-existent. Exchanging at night means either the airport or waiting until morning. More on this — on 24/7 exchange.
Is it worth using a card so I don't have to exchange at the airport at all?
If your card works in Russia (Mir, or some UnionPay cards), this is the best option. Taxis, the metro, and cafes accept cards, and you don't need to exchange anything on day one. More on this — on cards in Russia.
Which rate is best at SVO, DME, or VKO?
Between terminals and airports the average difference is small — around 0.3 to 0.5 rubles per unit of currency. It's not worth choosing an airport just for the rate.
