Wages and Buying Power, 1895 - 1905

In the period 1895 to 1905 the average worker's monthly wages were as follows:

steel founder        44 - 48    rubles
coal miner       38 - 41    rubles
stone-mason      32 - 35    rubles
lathe operator (steel-cutting)   28 - 31 rubles
tannery worker       27 - 30    rubles
chemical worker      23 - 26    rubles
hat/bonnet maker     17 - 19    rubles
textile worker       15 - 16    rubles
tobacco worker       12. 5 - 13.5 rubles

In the same time period the buying power of the ruble was as follows: (1 ruble has 100 kopecks, like 1 dollar has 100 cents)

Product                                per 1 k      per 1 lb
Butter                                 74 kop.       33 kop.
Ham                                   30 kop.       13 kop.
Chicken eggs    1 dozen                - - - - -     18 kop. doz.
Cabbage heads   1 dozen                - - - - -    72 kop.doz.
Cucumbers 1 dozen                  - - - - -         03 kop. doz.
Sunflower oil   1 quart                - - - - -        25 kop./qua.
Honey                                  1r 22kop.     55 kop
One chicken                        - - - - -     50 kop.
One duck                           - - - - -         90 kop
One sheep                               - - - - -       4 rub
One cow                                - - - - -      45 rub
Wheat 1 bushel                         - - - - -     1 r 51 kop
Rye    1 bushel                  - - - -    1 ruble 18 kop
Barley   1 bushel         - - - - - -    64 kop
Letter stamp (up to 15 gr.)            - - - - -         07 kop.
Postcard with a stamp                  - - - - -        03 kop.

Money exchange rates in 1899 and 1903 were the same; and we may assume that between 1899 and 1903 the rates were the same too.  Russian ruble, USA dollar, GB pound, German mark and French franc.

Other currencies in Russian rubles. 1 ruble in other currencies.
1 pound = 6.28 rubles                    1 ruble = 0.16 pounds
1 dollar = 1.29 rubles                  1 ruble = 0.7752 dollars
1 mark = 0.308 rubles                   1 ruble = 3.2467 marks
1 franc = 0.25 rubles                   1 ruble = 4.0 francs
 

Sources:
1. Vsia Rossiia 1895 edition
2. Vsia Rossiia 1899 edition
3. Vsia Rossiia 1903 edition
4. Russian encyclopedia by Brockgause and Ephron 1892 - 1905
5. V. L. Ulianov - Lenin  "Development of Capitalism in Russia



Copyright © 1999  Mark Grekin
Last updated 10/2023 Irene Newhouse
 
 


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