You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
RE: How to pay in Russia without a local bank
That sounds like a huge lifesaver because I was really dreading the cash option. Could you recommend a specific app or service that you know actually works well? How easy is it to set up for someone who does not speak Russian?
You should definitely check out PayInRussia payinrussia.com. It is an app made exactly for this. You just download it, sign up with your passport, and you can top it up instantly using your usual international payment methods. No need to deal with the crazy paperwork of opening a real Russian bank account or trying to get something like SberPay, which you cannot even top up with foreign cards anyway. With this app, you pay for everything using QR codes. It works perfectly in restaurants, grocery stores, and online for train tickets or Yandex Go taxis. Just note that it does not support NFC payments or ATM cash withdrawals, but the QR code option is accepted almost everywhere there now.