In Soviet Russia dollar exchange rate was established by the state and was 1 dollar for 63 Russian copecks, or 1 American dollar for 0.63 Russian ruble.

What could the Foreigners coming to Russia afford? Here is the short review for the prices at that times in American dollars:

Small loaf – $0.11

Bread – $0.30

Cigarettes (Bulgarian, Eastern European) – $0.83

Cigarettes imported Marlboro – $2.50

Eggs (10 pieces) – $1.66

Ice-cream $0.25

Chocolate bar (0.22 pound) 100g – $1.33

Milk 1 liter (32 fl. oz) – $0.76

Cheese (2.2 pounds – 1kg) $3.66

Recycled glass bottle – $0.16

Salt (2.2 pounds pack) – $0.16

Potatos (2.2 pounds) 1 kilo – $0.41

Cucumbers (2.2 pounds) 1 kilo – $1.16

Tape cassette recorder, Russian make – $241.00

Acoustic guitar, Russian make – $41.00

Parker pen with a golden feather – $8.33

Beer, Russian make, 16 fl.oz. (half liter) bottled – $0.66

Beef, (2.2 pounds) 1 kilo – $3.16 (also standing in line for two hours and not more than 5 pounds in one hands)

Vodka “Stolichnaya”, 16 fl.oz (half liter) bottled – $6.66

Wine red, white – $1.36

Sparkling wine – $6.95

Car, Soviet make, ZAZ – $5800

Boxer’s gloves $15.8

City bus $0.08

Flight Moscow-Kazakhstan $106

Small tape recorder, Russian make $160

Levi’s jeans, smuggled, sold at black market $416

Sweet beets $0.10

Sugar (2.2 pounds – 1kg) $1.30

Matches box $0.01 (often used as a change in shops when there was shortage of the small coins)

Sewing machine $97.00

Bicycle $80

Carpet, oriental style, Russian make, 10ft (3 meteres) long – $53

Wrist watches, Russian make $88

Electric shaver, Russian make $23

Piano $876

Fridge, Russian make – $250

Photo camera, Russian – $100

Vaccuum cleaner, Russian – $70

By the way, average Russian salary for someone like an office worker or a construction worker was around $200/month.