The dramatic fall in the ruble’s value over two years has made shopping in Russia lucrative and advantageous for foreigners: iPhones, luxury brands and even cars are cheaper here. What are tourists looking out for and from where are they coming"
CNN Money published a ranking of prices for the iPhone 6s in various countries in February and it turned out that Russia was among the cheapest countries to buy Apple products.
The smart phone is cheaper only in Canada, the UAE, Hong Kong and the U.S. Phones are just part of a trend that is seeing growing numbers of foreigners taking advantage of the weak ruble by picking up consumer goods; from cosmetics to cars; during their visits to Russia.

The good life has its rewards
Barely two years ago, according to a Mercer survey, Moscow was ranked one of the 10 most expensive cities for foreigners. Last year, the Russian capital dropped to 50th place, meaning almost any foreign tourist can now stay in a hotel overlooking the Kremlin. Top class hotels are now twice as cheap in dollar terms, and seasonal discounts of up to 40 percent are also available. In March 2016, for example, you could stay in a 5-star Moscow hotel for $120 a night and at a 4-star hotel for $70-80. Around 30 percent of people staying in luxury hotels are foreigners, mostly from China and Southeast Asia, the U.S. and Europe, said Marina Smirnova, director of hotel business and tourism at Cushman & Wakefield.
Heaven for shopaholics
In 2015, around 13 per...