Increased rental housing costs observed in Ekaterinburg, with six districts experiencing price surges
In June 2025, the housing rental market in Yekaterinburg exhibited some significant trends, influenced by broader Russian housing market dynamics.
Price Trends: While specific rental price data for Yekaterinburg in June 2025 is not readily available, it is known that in 26 Russian cities, including major ones, there was a decrease in the secondary housing market prices after a prolonged period of stagnation, with drops ranging from 3-4% depending on the city[1]. This seasonal trend likely affected Yekaterinburg as well, particularly in the resale sector, which influences rental prices.
Supply and Demand: Nationally, new housing supply declined by approximately 20% year-on-year in early 2025, exacerbating market imbalances. Developer-led new projects increased the oversupply with 68% of housing under construction remaining unsold in May 2025[2]. However, developers were hesitant to significantly reduce prices due to financing specifics, which may have limited price declines and impacted rental housing availability and prices in cities like Yekaterinburg.
Luxurious and Popular Districts: Yekaterinburg, like other secondary cities, is experiencing growing demand in the luxury residential segment, driven by domestic wealth concentration and migration of the elite from larger cities[3]. This suggests that popular rental districts in Yekaterinburg may center around newer, upscale developments or areas appealing to professionals and wealthier segments, reflecting trends for energy-efficient, green, and smart residences.
Popular Districts: Though exact districts are not specified, upscale localities tend to benefit from luxury residential demand linked to Russia's wider luxury real estate market growth, pointing towards central and emerging residential neighbourhoods as potential rental hotspots[3].
In the heart of Yekaterinburg, the most budget-friendly housing options can be found in the Academic district (27,800 rubles) and Ordzhonikidze district (29,600 rubles). One-bedroom apartments in the Lenin District can be rented from 24,000 rubles, while studios are available for 25,000 rubles. Three-bedroom apartments in the Lenin District can be rented for 45,000 rubles, with more expensive apartments traditionally concentrated in this district, boasting an average rental rate of 56,200 rubles.
More affordable apartments are currently being rented out faster in Yekaterinburg, according to Roman Zhukov, head of Yandex Rent. Conversely, higher-budget options are taking longer to find tenants. In June 2025, the median long-term rental rate for housing in Yekaterinburg was 34,000 rubles.
In addition to the price trends, the number of listings on the Yekaterinburg rental market decreased by 2.3% in June. Despite this decrease, the number of views of rental ads increased by 11% in June compared to May, possibly indicating a growing interest in the rental market.
Rental prices also increased in the Lenin (+2%) and Chkalovsky (+1.2%) districts, while decreasing in Oktyabrsky (-4.9%, to 35,100 rubles) and Chelyabinsk (-1.2%, to 33,900 rubles). Two-bedroom apartments in the Lenin District are available from 25,000 rubles, with a maximum rental price increase recorded in the Verkh-Isetsky District (+5.5%, to 41,000 rubles).
Unfortunately, specific July 2025 rental price changes and detailed district-level data for Yekaterinburg were not available in the search results.
In June 2025, the decreasing housing market prices in several Russian cities, including a 3-4% drop in 26 cities, may have influenced financial decisions for investors in Yekaterinburg's rental market, particularly in the resale sector. Due to the uncertainty in the supply of new housing developments and the preference for luxury residential districts among wealthier segments, investing in real-estate properties and housing-market rental properties in Yekaterinburg could potentially offer a mix of challenges and opportunities for investors.
