Russians save more than half of their income to buy an apartment

Russians demonstrate impressive determination and financial discipline in their pursuit of the dream of owning their own homes. According to the results of a survey conducted by developer PIONEER among Russian citizens, which was reviewed by Izvestia on July 31, almost half of the respondents set aside a significant portion of their income to buy an apartment — up to 60% of their monthly earnings.

Noted. In monetary terms, this amount exceeds 100 thousand rubles, which indicates a serious approach to solving the housing issue.

The study shows that the overall picture of financial behavior emphasizes the priority of housing acquisition for the majority of the country's residents. 48% of Russians save up for an apartment every month, saving an impressive portion of their salary in order to receive the necessary amount faster. A quarter of the respondents show a moderate approach and are ready to save less than 30 thousand rubles. At the same time, a systematic approach to accumulation is important for respondents.

"The higher the amount of your own accumulated funds, the lower the burden on the loan, including the amount of payments and overpayments. If you set aside about 20% of your salary every month to buy an apartment, it will allow you to collect the necessary amount for the initial payment faster," said financial market expert Andrei Barkhota.

The majority of the country's residents (60%) prefer to make transactions with more than 70% of the cost of an apartment in their hands, which minimizes the credit burden. A quarter of the survey participants are ready to use a mortgage, saving only for the initial payment. At the same time, more than half of the respondents predict that it will take them more than five years to accumulate the required amount. A third of the respondents remain optimistic, hoping to achieve the goal more quickly — within a year.

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Potential home buyers are adapting to modern conditions, when the availability of preferential programs has decreased and market mortgage rates have increased. Some have taken a wait-and-see attitude and are saving up, taking advantage of high deposit rates in banks.

"Despite the fact that the mortgage situation has changed dramatically, 33% of buyers made such transactions in the first half of 2025, compared with 65% in the same period a year earlier. Today, the deal comes with a significant share of the cost of the apartment. These can be either your own savings or funds from the sale of other real estate," commented Irina Sharovarnikova, Head of Lending and Partner Programs at PIONEER.

Against the background of these trends, it is important to note the positive forecasts regarding household incomes. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, real incomes of Russians are expected to grow by 5.9% this year. By the end of 2024, this figure reached 7.3%.

Candidate of Economic Sciences, financial analyst Mikhail Belyaev expressed the opinion on June 19 that while loan rates in Russia have not decreased, those who plan to buy an apartment with a mortgage should form a financial cushion.

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