What Middle Class? Tyumen Residents Argue Over 300,000-Ruble Salary
The image underscores the genuine difficulty of achieving a 300,000-ruble monthly income in Russia.
Recently, we shared stories of Tyumen residents who earn from 100,000 to 300,000 rubles (about $1,100 to $3,300 at current rates) and boldly called them representatives of the middle class with good salaries. However, not everyone agreed with this.
Tyumen residents argued whether 300,000 rubles (about $3,300) a month is enough for a decent life. Some thought it was a lot, others thought it was too little. We present their arguments below.
«There Are No Such Salaries»: What Those Who Think It«s a Lot Say
Not all Tyumen residents believed our readers. Several people immediately considered their stories fabricated.
«They»re writing such tall tales, it«s unbelievable! There are no salaries of 300,000 rubles (about $3,300), unless you»re a director or a deputy. A smart person wouldn«t write about such a salary,» — thinks, for example, our reader Tatyana.
«Without connections, you can»t find a normal job!« — adds another Tyumen resident.
«And if people earn 30,000-40,000 rubles (about $330-$440 at current rates), then who are they? Homeless? That means they can afford to live on such a salary. If a young and healthy person does nothing to increase their income, then it»s fine for them,« — thinks another reader.
«I also want 300,000 rubles (about $3,300) or more per month, I strive for such stability, but something isn»t working out yet. For food, rent, children, it was barely enough,« — says Tyumen resident Natalya.
Many noted that they do not consider 300,000 rubles (about $3,300) a salary for the middle class.
«What middle class is that? Middle class — that»s around 100, let«s say, 80,000-120,000 rubles (about $880-$1,300 at current rates),» — says one of our readers.
«You Can»t Splurge Much«: Those Who Find It Insufficient
«I earn about 370,000 rubles (about $4,100 at current rates). 33.3% — alimony, 68,000 rubles (about $750) I pay monthly for the former family mortgage and car loan, 47,000 rubles (about $520) I pay for a loan on repairs and appliances for the new home. Credit card debt is 600,000 rubles (about $6,600), life is hard,» — notes one of our readers who found himself in a difficult situation.
«I earn 300,000 rubles (about $3,300) and can afford everything? Ha-ha-ha, I haven»t laughed that hard in a long time,« — ironizes a Tyumen resident for whom this money is clearly insufficient.
«In principle, prices are normal if you buy nothing. How can you buy cars and apartments on 300,000 rubles (about $3,300) a month? You can live austerely, yes,» — thinks another of our readers.
«My income is 220,000 rubles (about $2,400 at current rates). I confirm, you can»t splurge much. You can just afford a little more than before. More income, more expenses,« — notes a Tyumen resident.
«For one person, it»s quite good. For a family, of course, it«s already so-so. Although earning such a salary is not easy, and that»s why it«s disappointing that even with it you can»t afford that much,« — sadly summarized another commentator.
Earlier we told what Tyumen residents think about introducing behavior grades in schools. An experiment previously conducted only in several regions is being applied everywhere from September 1, and not everyone likes this idea. Even school staff, including principals, are divided in their opinions.
