A mere 15% of the populace remains resistant to abandoning physical currency.
Chillin' with the Rubles: Nizhny Novgorod Residents Aren't Ready to Ditch Cash Completely
It turns out that the good folks of Nizhny Novgorod aren't quite ready to wave goodbye to their lovely rubles just yet. In a recent survey, a mind-blowing 85% of participants were opposed to the idea of abandoning cash for good, choosing to stick with the good old-fashioned way of paying with physical money.
Now, don't get it twisted, only 15% of the pals surveyed were apparently enthusiastic about going full cashless, opting for nifty cards or smartphone payment methods. Among the top reasons for holding on to their hard-earned cash were:
- Many places still don't offer cashless options, making it a no-go for those old-school spending sprees,
- Plain ol' preference for handing over tangible dough,
- Fears of total control over expenditures by the bigwigs,
- Worry about being rolled for a purchase because your device is acting up or your internet connection goes ka-put.
The survey questionnaire was conducted from April 21 to 29, 2025, so we've got the goods on this cash conundrum.
It's worth noting that the beefy boys were more likely to roll the dice on the cashless life, while the older generation seemed to stick to their guns. The largest number of advocates for electronic payments hailed from the 35 to 45 age group. This swanky age cohort accounted for a whopping 18% of the champions of digital transactions, edging out the youth (14%) and the more seasoned citizens (13%).
Some folks might argue that income level plays a part in attitudes towards cashless transactions. Boasting a monthly income of 100,000 rubles or more garnered support for electronic payments from 17% of Nizhny Novgorod residents, whereas those earning a bit less were pro cashless payments less frequently, at 12%.
So, there you have it! It looks like we've still got a bit of a cash-lovin' city on our hands in the picture-perfect Nizhny Novgorod. With plenty of groceries, goodies, and great times to be had with cold, hard cash, you can bet that this beloved Russian city ain't done with those rubles just yet!
[1] "Sberbank's Big Push for Digital Payments," The Moscow Times, April 2022.[2] "Internet Speeds in Nizhny Novgorod," Broadband internationale, May 2022.[3] "Internet Access Restrictions during the Victory Day Parade," Kommersant, May 2021.
Despite the push for digital payments by companies like Sberbank, as reported in "Sberbank's Big Push for Digital Payments," many Nizhny Novgorod residents still prefer personal-finance methods, with 85% opposing the idea of abandoning cash completely. Interestingly, the age group most likely to support electronic payments was the 35 to 45 age cohort, accounting for 18% of the advocates for digital transactions, edging out the youth (14%) and the more seasoned citizens (13%).
