Borscht is asking for more: the price of borscht has increased by half in six months, and in some regions, by almost two times.
From December 2025 to June 2026, the average price of a borscht set in Russian regions increased by 56%. The price increase for basic vegetables was twelve times faster than the overall inflation rate in the country over the same period.
Where is the most expensive and cheapest borscht recorded?
Since the beginning of the year, prices have risen quite unevenly across the country. Experts found borscht to be the most expensive in Chukotka, where a set of vegetables cost 1675 rubles in June—five times the Russian average. A kilogram of cabbage cost 341 rubles, carrots 352 rubles, and beets 371 rubles. In Yakutia, the set cost 681 rubles, and in Kamchatka, 629 rubles.
In contrast, vegetables are cheapest in Mordovia—just 212 rubles per set. This represents an almost eightfold difference with Chukotka. The top three most affordable regions also include Nizhny Novgorod (231 rubles) and Saratov (238 rubles).
What's included in borscht and how the prices of individual vegetables have risen
Looking at specific products, cabbage prices increased the most over the past six months, from 34 to 58 rubles per kilogram (+70%). Potatoes increased almost as much, from 43 to 73 rubles (+69%). Furthermore, carrots increased in price by 52%, onions by 49%, and beets by 42%.
Consequently, overall inflation, which has reached 4,64% since the beginning of the year, is significantly slower than the rate of food price increases. The average price of a borscht set—a kilogram of potatoes, cabbage, onions, beets, and carrots—in Russia has increased from 205 to 320 rubles.
Record-breaking regions where prices have almost doubled
The Samara Region led the way in price growth: a vegetable set increased by 97%, from 159 to 312 rubles. Moscow Region (+93%), Bryansk Region (+92%), Mari El (+89%), Ulyanovsk Region (+86%), and Penza Region (+84%) followed.
Moreover, local records were set for individual vegetables. For example, in the Smolensk region, potato prices increased two and a half times, from 34 to 84 rubles per kilogram. In annexed Sevastopol, cabbage prices nearly tripled, from 24 to 68 rubles. Onions doubled in price in the Samara region, and carrots doubled in Mari El.
As a result, even in major cities, price increases were significant. In Moscow, the set increased in price by 76%—from 211 to 370 rubles—and cabbage in the capital doubled in price. In St. Petersburg, the price increase was 64%.
Far East and price dynamics in July 2026
However, vegetable prices increased the slowest in the Far Eastern regions: by 7% in the Magadan Region, by 7% in Kamchatka, and by 13% in Yakutia. However, the reason lies not in abundance, but rather in the fact that prices there are inherently high year-round and are largely independent of the season.
Vegetable prices continue to rise in July. According to Rosstat's weekly monitoring, beets have increased by another 4,8%, cabbage by 3,1%, and potatoes by 2,8% since the beginning of July. Meanwhile, cucumbers and tomatoes are already getting cheaper, as the seasonal price decline has begun.
All calculations in this material are based on official Rosstat data on average consumer prices at the end of December 2025 and the end of June 2026.
