Nothing Will Be “Cheap” in russia Any Longer: Marketplaces Are Rapidly Raising Prices

From 2026, russian marketplaces will lose their main advantage – low prices. Due to changes in tax legislation, online commerce is entering a phase of structural transformation, the consequences of which will directly hit buyers’ wallets. Prices are already predicted to rise by at least 5% in the first year, and this is just the beginning.

The key blow will fall on small businesses. The annual turnover limit for the simplified taxation system is being reduced from 60 million to 20 million rubles, and later – to 10 million. Sellers who exceed these limits will be forced to pay VAT, the rate of which is rising to 22%. As a result, margins are falling, and businesses are simply passing on the costs to the end consumer.

In parallel, russia’s authorities are tightening control over imports in an attempt to eliminate “gray” supply schemes. Confiscations of shipments and increased customs costs add another 10-30% to the price. Cheap electronics, household goods, clothing, and toys will gradually disappear from marketplaces or become significantly more expensive.

These processes are a direct consequence of the degradation of russia’s economy due to the war against Ukraine. Sanctions, isolation, broken logistics chains, and fiscal pressure are destroying the competitive environment. Instead of thousands of small sellers, there will be large players selling at significantly higher prices.

For consumers in russia, this means one simple thing: almost everything will become more expensive, while choice will be minimal. Marketplaces, which until recently were associated with affordability, are increasingly reflecting the real state of the country’s economy, which is paying the price for the war, aggression, and the authorities’ systemic miscalculations.