The World Cup Just Got 10% Cheaper as Russian Ruble Tumbles

(Bloomberg) -- There’s a silver lining to the geopolitical tensions threatening to wreak havoc when Russia hosts the World Cup in June and July. They’re cutting costs for visiting soccer fans.

Everything travelers buy will be about 10 percent cheaper in dollar terms after a fresh batch of U.S. sanctions sank the ruble this week. A three-course meal for two in a mid-range Moscow restaurant now costs about $38.70, compared with $43 on Friday, according to Numbeo, a website that compiles cost-of-living data. The cost of a beer has dropped to $1.55 and a metro ticket to just 80 cents.

One bummer for overseas travelers looking to cheer on their home team is that game tickets are priced in dollars for non-Russians, as are almost all airplane tickets.

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