Russians sharply increase demand for rental housing in Armenia

Rental prices in Yerevan rise by 30%

Over the past three months, rental prices in Yerevan have increased by 30%. Real estate specialists link the price growth to a new influx of Russians arriving in the country. “The demand is huge. Because of the situation that has developed in Yerevan’s real estate market, prices here are simply crazy,” one of the publication’s sources said.

Another real estate agent noted that the structure of inquiries has changed. In 2024–2025, most clients were emigrants who were already living in Armenia and were simply moving from one apartment to another. Now, the majority of requests come from newcomers.

“80% of those who contact us are people who have recently moved or are just planning to. The demand is huge, and the situation overall is comparable to 2022,” he said.

The active influx began after the May holidays, and the number of inquiries continues to grow.

Russians look for housing in Armenia for autumn

Popular Telegram chats for finding real estate now receive dozens of new listings every day from Russians who are already in Armenia or are planning to move there in late August and September. Families with children, couples, as well as single men and women are looking for housing. Users post requests for long-term rentals of apartments and houses, while some are searching for roommates.

The authors of the “Metry v dramakh” (“Meters in Drams”) channel note that quality offers have almost disappeared from the market, and the current situation is already close to the summer of 2022, when Armenia became one of the main destinations for Russian emigration after the start of the war in Ukraine.

5,000 searches per week

Interest among Russians in the search query “apartments in Yerevan” began to grow rapidly in spring 2026, according to Yandex Wordstat data. During the week of July 13–19, the number of searches reached 5,200, exceeding the figure recorded during the first week of March 2022, when there were about 5,000 searches. The absolute record was registered during the partial mobilization in autumn 2022, with almost 10,000 searches in the week of September 19–25.

According to Google Trends, the level of interest among Russians in searching for apartments in Yerevan in summer 2026 is already comparable to the periods following the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine and the mobilization in Russia.

Armenia remains one of the most popular destinations for Russians seeking to relocate due to the ability to enter the country using an internal Russian passport and the relatively simple process of legalizing their stay. However, the main reasons for the increased interest are linked to fears of possible mobilization.

Will there be another mobilization in Russia?

According to an investigation by “Important Stories” and “Verstka”, in spring 2026 Russian authorities faced difficulties in recruiting new contract soldiers. In Moscow, 1,708 people were sent to serve in April and 1,378 in May. This is about 1,000 fewer than the monthly figures recorded in 2025. In the first quarter, the number of people signing military contracts decreased by 20%.

Possible scenarios for replenishing the armed forces include the rotation of reservists and increasing financial incentives. A new wave of mobilization is also being discussed, although no final decision has been made.

It should be noted that the publication is based on information from unnamed sources close to the presidential administration, security structures, and the process of recruiting contract soldiers. Authorities have not officially announced preparations for a new mobilization. However, Russians of conscription age and their relatives fear that such measures could be introduced after the elections.