Average Monthly Salary in Former Soviet Union Republics 2016

About two years ago I first compared average monthly salary in Former Soviet Union Republics. Now, two years later, I decided to compare again. I was surprised after seeing results. Let me explain.

First - call it as you wish - major world economic crisis, sanctions against Russia, better integrated or worst integrated parts of the World, but after seeing huge drops in all but Baltic States and Armenia's average salary for me it seems, those countries are still very closely related with Russia, at least in economical plan, and I'm not saying it is good nor it's bad. It's just how it looks for me. 

If exchanged to US dollar Russia's monthly average salary in Russian roubles  in past two years have dropped by whooping -359 USD. If you are interested in former Soviet Union space, you have probably heard about events in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and Russian rouble troubles against American dollar. Those of you who follows my blog, had probably read about my worries about weak Georgian Lari against American dollar. 

Not only national currencies have lost their value against USD. Euro have lost some value as well. So for example, two years ago, when I firstly compared average monthly salary rates in former Soviet Union space 1 USD to EUR = 0.7718.

Now, two years later 1 USD to EUR = 0.8893

About Former Soviet Union republics - The post-Soviet states, also collectively known as the former Soviet Union (FSU) or former Soviet Republics, are the 15 independent states that emerged from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its dissolution in December 1991, with Russia internationally recognized as the successor state to the Soviet Union.

Before getting down to the table, I must admit that gathering data for these 15 former Soviet States was pretty hard, with Central Asian countries been the hardest, some data are estimates (marked with *). All, but three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) maintains their national currencies. I have simplified data by using USD or EUR exchange rates for countries with national currencies. Baltic States have adopted EUR currency.

Data source: List of European countries by average wage

• Kyrgyzstan - Average monthly salary makes around $170 in Kyrgyzstan,
• I didn't''t find any average salary source for Turkmenistan, and made my adjustment to USD 250.
• For Tajikistan I took the average salary USD 100 from Tajikistan: Poverty Fears Rise as Economy Slides.
• No data for Uzbekistan as well, the best I could get: Поиск работы в Узбекистане. Принесите справку, что вы не верблюд​

As of 2016, the better situated where the Baltic states, with Estonia making a huge leap with EUR 957 net monthly salary, followed by Latvia (EUR 664) and Lithuania (EUR 601) Russia from the 2nd place in 2014 have dropped 4th with EUR 438 monthly net salary,

Armenia and Georgia follows. As an expatriate in Georgia it's nice for me to see Georgia climbing from the 8th place in 2014 to rank 6th. Cool. Still Georgia have lost USD -73 or EUR 15 in monthly average since 2015.

Central Asian countries (with exception Kazakhstan) receives the least. Yes, salary have dropped in Ukraine as well, if exchanged to USD/EUR.

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